The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced the death of one of its examiners stationed at a Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) marking centre in Machakos County.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 24, 2025, KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere confirmed that the examiner, Nicodemus Mutua Mutuku, passed away earlier that morning while on duty at Machakos Girls High School, one of the designated marking centres.
According to the council, Mutuku was a team leader in the Creative Arts and Sports paper, a role he had executed diligently since the marking process began on November 7. Dr. Njengere described him as a committed and experienced professional whose contribution to Kenya’s national assessment system spanned several years.
Mutuku served as a teacher at Nduluni Junior School in Makindu Sub-County, Makueni County. Before the rollout of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), he had been an examiner for the discontinued Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination. His long service and expertise, the CEO noted, made him a valuable member of KNEC’s examiner pool.
“It is with profound sadness that I share the news of his passing. He was an experienced, diligent teacher, and we have indeed lost a gem,” Dr. Njengere said, expressing the council’s sorrow and appreciation for Mutuku’s service.
Each year, marking centres across the country bring together thousands of teachers tasked with evaluating national examinations. KNEC emphasised that examiner welfare remains a central operational priority, given the demanding nature of the marking exercise.
The council extended its condolences to Mutuku’s family, colleagues, friends, and fellow examiners during this difficult time.
KNEC, mandated under the KNEC Act, oversees the setting, administration, and marking of national assessments. Under CBC reforms, the council also introduced the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), which evaluates learners at the end of Grade 9.
Mutuku’s passing marks a sombre moment for the education fraternity as the country continues its transition to competency-based assessments.
