KNEC braces for tough season as over 3.5 million learners sit exams

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is preparing for one of the most demanding examination seasons in its history, with a record 3.5 million learners expected to sit national assessments and examinations between September and November 2026.

The massive exercise, driven by the full implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) alongside the final years of the 8-4-4 system, has pushed the examinations body into uncharted waters as it grapples with rising operational costs, complex logistics and persistent funding challenges.

For the first time, KNEC will simultaneously administer four major national assessments: the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) for Grade Six learners, the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for Grade Nine candidates, the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination for Form Four students, and the Grade 10 School-Based Assessment (SBA) under the CBC senior school pathway.

According to KNEC figures, 1,300,864 learners have registered for KPSEA, 1,193,200 for KJSEA and 1,049,276 for KCSE, pushing the total number of learners undertaking national assessments to approximately 3.5 million.

The KCSE candidature alone has crossed the one-million mark for the first time in Kenya's history as the council try to rope in all candidates who want to repeat or sit for the exams under 8.4.4 system before next years deadline.

KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere described the undertaking as unprecedented in both scale and complexity.

“This year will be quite heavy. Second year of running three big assessments; KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE, all with candidature hovering around one million. Then we have the Grade 10 cohort that will sit their first SBA in Senior School,” said Dr Njengere.

He commended schools and education stakeholders for ensuring the timely registration of candidates, saying the council had already shifted focus to preparing examination materials.

“KNEC appreciates all stakeholders for adhering to our timeliness on registration of the 3.5 million candidates in Grades 6, 9 and Form 4. We are now set to prepare their personalised summative assessment papers as we have done in the last two years. We wish the candidates well as they prepare to sit the assessments from October,” he said.

While CBE continues to roll out across the country, the government is still administering examinations under the outgoing 8-4-4 system, effectively forcing KNEC to support two parallel systems.

This result in increase in costs associated with printing examination papers, transporting materials to thousands of centres, securing storage facilities, recruiting invigilators and supervisors, and coordinating the marking process.

The financial burden comes against the backdrop of a funding crisis that nearly disrupted the country's examination calendar last year.

During the 2024/2025 financial year, KNEC recorded a deficit of Sh3.7 billion after the national budget failed to provide funds for the administration and invigilation of examinations.

The omission sparked concern among parents, teachers and legislators, who warned that millions of learners risked being affected if the funding gap was not addressed.

Following intense pressure from Parliament and education stakeholders, the National Assembly approved an additional Sh5.9 billion to support the administration of national examinations.

In its report to the Budget and Appropriations Committee, the National Assembly Education Committee noted that examination administration had initially received no allocation.

“There is a proposed increment of Sh5.9 billion for examination administration and invigilation provision for national examinations which had not been provided for in the budget,” the committee stated.

The committee proposed reallocating Sh2 billion from junior school capitation, Sh3 billion from secondary school capitation and Sh900 million from primary school allocations to bridge the immediate funding gap.

However, even after the supplementary allocation, KNEC remained underfunded. The council had estimated that Sh12.58 billion was required to facilitate the administration of national examinations and assessments, leaving a substantial shortfall.

The issue prompted a showdown between lawmakers and government officials during budget hearings.

National Assembly Education Committee chaired by Tinderet MP Julius Melly insisted that Parliament would not pass the education budget without adequate examination funding.

“We shall not write our report without the examination money,” Melly told then Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok during a committee session.

The standoff eventually forced the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to review the budget and restore critical allocations.

The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi later sought to reassure anxious parents and candidates that examinations would proceed without interruption.

“There is no need to panic. It will be catered for,” Mbadi said, while indicating that the government was reviewing the current examination financing model and eligibility for government-subsidised examination fees.

KNEC is also confronting the technical demands of implementing CBE assessments.

The introduction of the Grade 10 School-Based Assessment marks a significant milestone in Kenya's education reforms. Unlike traditional examinations conducted over a few days, SBAs are administered within schools over an extended period and contribute to a learner's overall academic evaluation.

The approach requires new assessment tools, digital reporting systems, teacher training and extensive monitoring to ensure fairness and consistency nationwide.

Dr Njengere said KNEC has invested heavily in technology and stakeholder training to support the rollout.

“We are investing in systems that allow secure capture and transmission of assessment data while ensuring teachers are adequately guided on assessment standards,” he said.

The council has intensified logistical planning, strengthened partnerships with security agencies and adopted technology-driven solutions to improve efficiency.

KNEC is also streamlining staff deployment and exploring cost-saving measures aimed at reducing administrative expenses without compromising examination integrity.

National Parents Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa has nevertheless warned that recurring budget crises pose a long-term threat to the credibility and sustainability of national examinations.

“KNEC cannot continue operating on emergency funding every year. Exams are a constitutional right for learners and must be planned for adequately,” Obuhatsa said.