NAIROBI, Kenya- The 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams have officially begun, with 965,501 candidates sitting for the exams in 10,755 centers across the country—a notable increase from the 903,138 candidates in 2023.
As the nation braces for the exam season, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has rolled out measures to ensure smooth operations for this high-stakes assessment period.
The KCSE exams kicked off with practical and oral assessments in elective subjects, including French, German, Kenyan Sign Language, and music.
These specialized tests pave the way for a broader range of written exams scheduled to run from October 22 to November 22.
The inclusion of these diverse elective subjects underscores the country’s commitment to offering a well-rounded education experience.
KNEC CEO David Njeng’ere highlighted the council’s efforts to bolster exam logistics this year.
“We have installed additional containers to manage the collection of exam papers twice a day,” Njeng’ere said.
In fact, 41 new distribution centers have been added to ensure that exam materials are handled efficiently, bringing the total number of distribution hubs to 617.
Beyond the KCSE, another significant assessment—the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA)—is set to take place from October 28 to November 1.
This is part of the country’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), and 1,303,913 candidates are expected to sit for the exams across 35,573 centers.
The KPSEA marks a critical transition as the CBC model continues to shape Kenya’s evolving education system.
With over 1.9 million candidates participating in both KCSE and KPSEA this year, the exam period represents a major milestone for Kenya’s education sector.
As the country moves forward with an ambitious curriculum and increased candidate participation, it’s clear that efforts to streamline the examination process are in full swing.
