All systems go as 2025 KCSE exams start, CBC awaits next week

An Invigilator during KCSE exams at St Kevin's Secondary School in Lodwar, Turkana county. [File, Standard]

The 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination begins Tuesday.

This will be followed by Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) concurrently next week for three days.

Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) says all systems are in place to ensure a credible and seamless process despite logistical and financial challenges affecting schools.

KCSE examination will commence with oral papers for foreign and sign languages, including French, German, and Kenya Sign Language, before moving to practical examinations from October 22 to October 31. Written papers will follow from November 4 to November 21.

KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere confirmed that a total of 996,078 candidates have registered for KCSE this year.

Next week, he added, that 1,298,089 candidates will sit for KPSEA, while 1,130,669 learners, the pioneers of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) will sit the inaugural KJSEA.

“In total, 3,424,836 candidates will undertake national examinations and assessments this year. The field administration began on October 17 and will end on November 21, 2025,” said Dr Njengere.

He noted that while security officers will be limited to key logistical roles in KPSEA and KJSEA, each KCSE examination centre will have at least two security officers to safeguard exam integrity.

“Over the last two years, we have successfully addressed the challenge of early exposure to the exams,” Njengere added.

“To further ease this process, KNEC has installed an additional 25 storage containers in sub-counties, bringing the total number to 642, up from 617 last year.”

KNEC will deploy 10,765 centre managers, 12,126 supervisors, 54,782 invigilators, and 22,247 security officers to manage the KCSE exercise. Additionally, 2,692 drivers will assist in logistics, particularly in regions affected by poor roads and rains.

KNEC Chairman Julius Nyabudi assured the country that all preparations were complete, noting that fairness and transparency will guide the entire process.
“Preparations in readiness for the 2025 national examination and assessments are complete,” said Prof Nyabudi.

“We have put in place measures to ensure that learners’ performance reflects their true effort.

‘‘In discharging our duties, we must uphold fairness, transparency, and integrity to maintain the credibility of our education system.”

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba issued a stern warning against any form of malpractice during the national exams.

“We will have no mercy on anyone who will be found engaging in any form of malpractice,” Ogamba warned.

“All candidates, centre managers, supervisors and invigilators must comply with examination regulations, failing which they will face the full force of the law.”

However, despite the readiness expressed by examinations body and the Ministry of Education, schools have grappled with several challenges ahead of the national examinations.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association Chairman Willy Kuria noted that many schools have faced disruptions due to delays in government capitation funds.

“Several schools have struggled to meet their operational costs because of delayed capitation. This has made it difficult to adequately prepare for practical examinations,” said Kuria.

He added that principals in rural areas, especially in schools facing weather-related disruptions, have also been forced to improvise as they await funds.