The 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations officially begin today across the country, marking a major milestone for thousands of Kenyan students completing their secondary education.
According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), all preparations have been finalized to ensure a smooth, fair, and transparent examination process following successful national rehearsals conducted on Friday, October 17.
Nearly One Million Candidates Sitting KCSE
KNEC Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Njengere confirmed that a total of 996,078 candidates will sit for this year’s KCSE.
The exams start with orals for French, German, Arabic, and Kenyan Sign Language, followed by practical examinations scheduled from Wednesday, October 22, to Friday, October 31, 2025.
In addition, 1,298,089 learners will take part in the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) next week, while 1,130,669 candidates are set to sit for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Enhanced Security and Logistics
Dr. Njengere revealed that KNEC has increased exam storage containers from 617 in 2024 to 642 this year to ease the distribution and security of examination materials across the country.
“All measures are in place to guarantee integrity and efficiency in this year’s national examinations,” he said.
The containers are located within sub-county offices and are jointly managed by education officials, security officers, and KNEC representatives.
CS Ogamba Warns Against Exam Malpractice
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a strong warning against exam irregularities, emphasizing that anyone found engaging in malpractice will face legal consequences.
“The government has zero tolerance for cheating. Anyone — whether a student, teacher, or official — caught violating exam regulations will be prosecuted,” the CS said during a press briefing at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).
