28 high school students were arrested on Sunday night November 27, 2022, in various nightclubs in Runyenjes, Embu East sub-county.
While confirming the incident, Embu East Subcounty deputy county commissioner Jane Waruige said that among the students arrested were 21 boys and 7 girls.
Waruige said some of the students arrested were candidates who are sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.
She said the minors are aged between 13 to 18 years and they were parting in various entertainment joints.
They are being held at Runyenjes police station as investigations continue.
He warned bar operators that they risk the closure of their entertainment joints for those who will sell alcohol to school-going children.
Elsewhere, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) 2022 examination kicked off to a smooth start in Embu County.
Embu county commissioner Stephen Kihara led a multi-agency team to supervise exam material distribution.
While addressing the press at his office, which is one of the exam distribution centres in Embu West, he said security had been beefed up in all exam centres across the county to ensure the smooth running of the exam.
“Today we came here to supervise the distribution of exam materials, we have laid down all mechanisms to curb exam irregularities, cheating and all manner of malpractices,” Kihara said.
Kihara affirmed his commitment to delivering credible exams in the county.
He said unnecessary materials like mobile phones and other electronic devices will not be allowed in exam centres, noting that anyone found in possession of such materials with meet the edges of the law.
The commissioner also stated that only the school heads, supervisors, invigilators and security personnel will only be allowed in the exam centres.
Embu county director of education Fridah Kangwiria urged all the candidates to ensure they report to school and take their exams.
She assured the candidates that no one will miss the exams since the government has installed an emergency transport system to transport the exams in case of adverse weather and other challenges.
“The ministry is well prepared to ensure the exercise flows smoothly as planned. What we request from the public is to give our children a conducive environment to write their exams,” Kangwiria said.
“We shall not tolerate any form of activity that may jeopardize exam administration,” she added.
15,120 candidates will be sitting for the KCPE while 13,404 will seat for grade six exams in Embu county.