Two killed as aircraft crashes in Marsabit

An aircraft crashed on Saturday c in Marsabit, killing two people instantly.

Police said it was heading for a peace meeting in Ileret area.

Eastern regional police boss Noah Mwivanda confirmed that the pilot and his co-pilot died following the Saturday morning accident.

The aircraft crashed at Kofia Mbaya area, few kilometers from the governor’s office on the outskirts of Marsabit town.

Earlier reports had indicated that the ill-fated aircraft was ferrying Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.

Schools closed last week for the April holiday to give room for administration of the KCPE and KCSE examinations.

The Education ministry calendar indicates learners in Pre Primary 1 and 2; Grades 1, 2 and 3; Classes 5, 6 and 7; and Form 1, 2, and 3 will proceed for a seven-week holiday.

Schools will reopen on May 10 for the third term of 2020 that was lost following the 10-month closure due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This will not be the case for Grade 4 learners whose stay at home will run for three months as they await the commencement of the 2021 school calendar in July when they transit to Grade 5.

This is because Grade4 learners opened earlier—in October—together with candidates in Class 8 and Form 4.

Already, examination papers for the 1.9 million candidates are secured in the government’s safety containers. KCPE exams begin on March 22 and end on March 24 for 1,187,517 candidates.

KCSE candidates will have their rehearsals on March 25 before sitting the exam from March 26 to April 21. Some 751,150 candidates are to take the test.