Nairobi — Heavy rains threatened to wreak havoc on the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination after roads in parts of the country became impassable.

Supervisors, invigilators and security officers in Rachuonyo North, Mbita, Ndhiwa and Homa Bay had to walk for kilometres to get to exam centres.

Mbita education officer John Ololtua said officials had to use four-wheel drive vehicles, and as a result, the chemistry paper started almost 30 minutes late.

"The rains rendered most roads impassable but schools in Mfangano Island started on time," he said.

Ndhiwa district education officer Benson Mauko said officials walked long distances but added that all candidates managed to sit the examination.

Homa Bay district education officer Margaret Lessuda and her Rachuonyo North counterpart Richard Limo also said that despite the heavy rains, candidates in their areas sat for the papers.

Though farmers expressed mixed feelings at the onset of what is believed to be the El Nino rains, commuters using the Homa Bay-Mbita, Sindo-Homa Bay and Rodi Kopany-Rangwe-Oyugis road were furious at the lack of preparedness.

"It is infuriating that Roads ministry officials have been sitting in their offices doing nothing to prepare for El Nino," said Homa Bay councillor Otieno Chaka.

In Bungoma, transport in most parts remained paralysed as roads are flooded.

On the Tongaren-Misikhu road, vehicles carrying examination material were delayed.

Winds uprooted trees and flattened crops that were not harvested.

"My beans which were ready for harvesting were all destroyed last night," a farmer, Mrs Alice Simiyu, said.

The official opening of the Bungoma Agricultural Show was also delayed.

District commissioner John Litunda advised residents to vacate houses on slopes. He also said residents should not shelter under trees to avoid lightning strikes. Two people have so far been struck dead in the area.

In Migori and Nyatike districts,commuters were stranded after the murram roads became impassable. Farmers in Suba West and Suba East reported heavy losses as acres of maize, millet and tobacco crops were swept downstream.

In Mandera Central and Wajir districts, heavy rains in the last three days have destroyed property worth millions andwashed away roads, cutting off the region.

In Mandera, families were on Thursday camping at three primary schools after their huts were swept away by floods.

DC Mr Ole Tutui said the administration police line has also been flooded and officers had been evacuated to higher grounds.

In Wajir, a shortage of basic commodities such as food and medicine hit the area after a long stretch of the road between Mandera and Nairobi was washed away.

"The road to Nairobi is completely impassable," said a manager with a bus company plying the route, Mr Abdi Ali.

In Moyale, the road linking the town to Dabel, 60 kms away, has been destroyed. Traders from the centre who were in Moyale were preparing to ferry supplies by donkeys.