NAIROBI, Kenya — More than one million candidates have begun sitting the written papers of the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, marking the first time candidature has crossed the one-million threshold.
A total of 1,048,355 candidates are registered for this year’s examination, which began its main written papers on Monday, November 2, across more than 10,000 examination centres countrywide.
Candidates started the morning session with English Paper 1, while those taking Chemistry were scheduled to sit Paper 1 in the afternoon.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the written examinations would run until Friday, November 20, following the commencement of oral, practical and low-candidature papers on October 19.
The 2026 examination is the second-last KCSE cohort under the 8-4-4 education system, with the final group expected to sit the examination in 2027 as Kenya advances its transition to Competency-Based Education (CBE).
KCSE candidature crosses one million
Ogamba described this year’s registration as a significant milestone, with the number of candidates increasing from 995,860 in 2025 to 1,048,355 in 2026.
The latest figure represents a 5.27 per cent increase compared with last year’s candidature. In 2024, 965,172 candidates registered for the examination.
The increase places additional demands on the examination administration system, including the distribution and security of examination materials, deployment of personnel and coordination across thousands of centres.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has published the examination timetable and instructions governing the administration of the papers.
Government warns against examination malpractice
As the written examinations get underway, the Education CS said the government had strengthened security arrangements to protect examination materials and prevent leakage.
He, however, cautioned that examination malpractice remained a concern, particularly impersonation, collusion and possession of unauthorised materials.
“The Government, through KNEC and its partners, has strengthened the security of examination materials, significantly reducing the risk of leakage and early exposure,” he said.
“Nevertheless, examination malpractice remains a concern, particularly through impersonation, collusion and possession of unauthorised materials.”
The warning comes as examination authorities seek to safeguard the credibility of the national assessment, with candidates, teachers, supervisors and invigilators expected to observe the examination regulations.
Government prepares for heavy rains during KCSE examinations
Ogamba also said the Ministry of Education had put contingency measures in place to minimise disruptions arising from anticipated heavy rains during the examination period.
He said the government’s priority was to protect candidates and examination personnel while ensuring that those affected by weather-related disruptions received the necessary support.
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“Our priority is to safeguard candidates and examination personnel while ensuring that any disruption is addressed promptly and that affected candidates are supported in accordance with KNEC arrangements,” Ogamba noted.
The government has said it will coordinate with relevant agencies to respond to challenges that could affect the administration of the examinations, particularly in areas vulnerable to flooding and difficult weather conditions.
Final KCSE cohort expected in 2027
The 2026 examination comes as Kenya continues implementing the transition from the 8-4-4 curriculum to Competency-Based Education.
The KCSE will therefore continue for one more cohort in 2027 before the traditional examination system is phased out under the education transition plan.
The shift to CBE is changing the structure of basic education, with learners progressing through primary and junior school before joining senior school.
For the candidates sitting this year’s KCSE, however, the immediate focus remains on completing the written examinations, which are scheduled to conclude on November 20.
