KCSE candidates begin written exams today amid tight security

The 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) written examination begins Monday, with candidates sitting for English Paper 1 in the morning and Chemistry Paper 1 in the afternoon separated by a four-hour break.

The exercise will test more than 900,000 candidates, concluding on November 21 with Physics Paper 3, a practical exam.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said all measures have been put in place to ensure a smooth and credible examination process despite the ongoing short rains affecting several regions of the country.

“It is true that we have challenges of floods in some parts of the country where we are administering exams,” said Ogamba.

“We have put measures in place to mitigate disruptions. The National Police Service, county commissioners, and regional education officers are working together to ensure exams reach all centres safely and on time.”

He added that helicopters and four-wheel-drive vehicles have been deployed in flood-prone counties to deliver exam materials, while disaster response teams remain on standby to support schools cut off by heavy rains.

The CS assured parents and students of the government’s commitment to a credible process:

“The integrity of our exams remains non-negotiable. We are using a multi-agency approach involving the Ministry of Education, Interior ministry, Teachers Service Commission, and Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to safeguard every stage of the examination process.”

According to KNEC timetable, candidates will sit for Mathematics Paper 1 on November 4, followed by English Literature in the afternoon.

On November 5, they will take Chemistry Paper 2 and English Composition, while Kiswahili Lugha and Kiswahili Fasihi will be done on November 6.

The second week will feature Christian Religious Education and Biology Papers 1 and 2, alongside History and Government on November 13, followed by Biology practicals. The final week will include Geography, Physics, Business Studies, and Agriculture papers.

KNEC has directed all schools and candidates to strictly follow the timetable and examination rules.

Centre managers must ensure that supervisors and invigilators have not served in the same institution for three consecutive years, in line with the council’s rotation policy aimed at curbing familiarity and potential malpractice.

“Supervisors must verify that candidates have signed their answer scripts and that the number of submitted papers matches the number of present candidates,” the guidelines state.

KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere expressed confidence in the council’s readiness, saying the logistical and security systems are in place for a credible exercise.

“The administration of the Grade 6 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment and Grade 9 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment summative assessments has gone well, and we expect the KCSE to follow suit.

‘‘Teachers have prepared candidates, so there is no cause for alarm,” said Njengere.

He warned candidates and officials against engaging in cheating or irregularities, reminding them of last year’s 711 results that were cancelled over malpractice.

“It was a painful decision, but it had to be done in the interest of fairness and credibility,” said Njengere.

“No one should be found with a phone in an examination or assessment centre. Violations will lead to automatic cancellation of results as provided under the KNEC Act No. 29 of 2012,” he said.

Ogamba told MPs earlier this week that KNEC was facing a Sh3.7 billion funding gap, which risked disrupting the smooth running of this year’s exams. The council had an approved allocation of Sh5.9 billion against a total requirement of Sh12.72 billion for KCSE, KJSEA, KPSEA, and School-Based Assessments.

“The deficit was Sh6.8 billion, but we appreciate Treasury’s commitment to provide Sh3.1 billion in the supplementary budget. The funds will also help clear outstanding bills from last year’s assessments,” Ogamba said.

Despite these challenges, the CS expressed optimism that the exams will proceed without hitches.

“We owe our candidates a fair, credible, and secure examination environment. This is a collective responsibility, and every Kenyan has a role to play in upholding the integrity of our national exams,” he said.