At Hobunaka Boys Secondary School in Luanda, Vihiga County, an unusual incident unfolded last Wednesday when a student opted out of sitting for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, citing his alleged lack of marijuana consumption.
The episode transpired just moments before the commencement of the morning paper. Despite being a regular user of the prohibited substance, the student arrived at school as usual but decided not to enter the examination room right before the start of the morning paper.
Upon being questioned by exam officials, it came to light that the student believed he was unable to tackle the Christian Religious Education Paper 2 and History and Government Paper 1 due to difficulties in recalling his revision. Despite officials’ attempts to persuade him to participate in the initial paper, their efforts were in vain, leading to the summoning of the student’s parents.
Even with the arrival of his mother, the student remained steadfast in his decision, insisting that he would only undertake the exam after consuming marijuana. Ultimately, the parent was advised to depart with her son.
The following day presented a contrasting scene, with the student arriving early in the morning and completing subsequent exams without any noteworthy incidents. The exam officials at the center declined to comment on the incident, redirecting inquiries to county education officials.
Nevertheless, an undisclosed source disclosed that the student’s reliance on marijuana is widely recognized within the community. According to the source, “He cannot do anything if he has not smoked. He becomes dormant if not under the influence of the substance. The boy is addicted, and the substance makes him active.” This revelation highlights a concerning pattern of substance abuse among Kenyan youth.
