A somber mood engulfed St. Peter’s Boys High School in Mumias, Kakamega County, after a tragic incident in which a candidate sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam collapsed and died in the examination room. The incident occurred on Monday during a Mathematics paper, leaving fellow students and teachers in shock.

According to witnesses, the student, identified as 17-year-old Peter Mwangi, appeared unwell before the examination started but insisted on taking the paper. Midway through the exam, he suddenly collapsed, alarming the other candidates in the room. Teachers and medical personnel were immediately alerted, and attempts were made to administer first aid.

“He had shown signs of discomfort but seemed determined to complete the exam. Unfortunately, his condition deteriorated rapidly,” said one of the teachers on duty. Efforts were made to rush him to a nearby hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

The Ministry of Education has since dispatched a team to the school to investigate the incident and offer counseling support to the students and staff affected by the tragedy. “This is a heartbreaking loss,” remarked the Kakamega County Director of Education, who assured that necessary measures would be taken to support the affected students.

The deceased’s family expressed deep grief over the loss, stating that Peter had been eagerly preparing for his final exams with hopes of pursuing a career in engineering. The incident has brought attention to the importance of mental and physical health support for students during high-stress exam periods.