A family is mourning the death of their Form Four daughter who died shortly after sitting her first Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers.
The family of David Ogweno is grieving the loss of Congestina Achieng, a student at Alaro Central Secondary School in Kanyaliech village, Koyugi sub-location, Kibiri Ward, Karachuonyo Constituency in Homa Bay.
The candidate died on Monday evening after complaining of severe chest pains, hours after completing her first two examination papers.
Earlier that day, teachers had noticed that she was visibly unwell during the examinations and contacted her parents, who rushed to check on her.
Her father, Ogweno, said he received a call from the school principal asking him to attend to his daughter after she had sat for the first two papers.
"Her condition worsened rapidly. We rushed her to Termary Hospital but unfortunately she passed away. It is very painful," he said.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Ogweno said the family had struggled to educate Achieng alongside her siblings, adding that one of his other children was studying at Tom Mboya University.
He said Achieng had aspired to become a lawyer and viewed the national examinations as a stepping stone towards improving her family's circumstances.
"She was a brilliant child and we hoped she was going to pass exams. I am perturbed Achieng is no more," he said.
Her mother, Pamela Atieno, said the teenager had been unwell since the previous week and had complained of chest pains.
"She complained of chest pains, and I bought her some over-the-counter medicine to relieve the pain so she could sit for the national exams. I was later called and told she could no longer continue," Atieno said.
Her teachers, Isaiah Opere and Austine Achina, described Achieng as an exemplary and disciplined student who was well behaved.
"She was gentle, composed, and well-behaved. She was never once in trouble or punished for misconduct," Opere said.
Her body was taken to the Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary.
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