By Daniel Otieno, Kakamega
As Kenya enters the peak of its national examination season, Bishop William Owuya of Jesus Wonders Victory Ministry in Kakamega has urged families and churches to support learners through prayer, mentorship, and emotional guidance.
His appeal comes as more than 3.4 million learners across the country sit for national examinations administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
The tests include the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade Six learners, the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for junior secondary students under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) for Form Four candidates.
“The church is a sanctuary where candidates can refill their hearts with courage and hope,” he said. “Through prayer and pastoral counselling, young minds can find calmness, share their worries, and draw strength from faith.”
Bishop Owuya described examinations as not only academic tests but also emotional and spiritual journey.
He said many students silently wrestle with anxiety, pressure, and fear of failure, and called on the community to provide a caring environment that nurtures hope and confidence.
“The church is a sanctuary where candidates can refill their hearts with courage and hope,” he said. “Through prayer and pastoral counselling, young minds can find calmness, share their worries, and draw strength from faith.”
He encouraged church leaders and youth mentors to organise prayer sessions, motivational talks, and quiet moments of reflection to help learners remain focused and mentally resilient.
The bishop also urged parents and guardians to create peaceful and supportive home environments where candidates can study and rest without distractions.
He advised families to provide balanced meals, ensure proper rest, and offer words of encouragement instead of pressure. “Simple gestures such as reducing household noise, sharing chores, and checking in on your child’s progress can make a big difference,” he said.
He added that open communication between parents and mentors could help children manage exam stress and maintain emotional balance throughout the testing period.
Reflecting on his own school days, Bishop Owuya recalled the strong moral and emotional support he received from his teacher, Mr Livingstone Elate of Esiandumba Primary School, his elder brother Wilson Mwenje, and his late mother, Mama Leunida Owuya, who served as a deaconess at Ebutuku PAG.
“Their faith, love, and belief in me shaped the man I am today,” he said. “When families and the church walk hand in hand with our candidates, we don’t just prepare them for exams, we prepare them for life.”
According to KNEC, a total of 3,424,836 candidates have been registered for the 2025 exams — 996,078 for KCSE, 1,298,089 for KPSEA, and 1,130,669 for KJSEA.
To support the massive exercise, the council has expanded its logistics capacity by installing 25 new examination containers, bringing the total to 642 from last year’s 617. Tens of thousands of examination officials have been deployed across the country, including centre managers, supervisors, invigilators, and security officers to ensure the process runs smoothly.
