NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenya is gearing up for its largest-ever national examination season, with a record 3.4 million candidates registered to sit three key national assessments starting October 17, 2025.
The massive undertaking will test the capacity of the country’s education, security, and logistical systems as the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) prepares for the unprecedented exercise.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer Dr David Njeng’ere confirmed that 996,078 candidates have been registered for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), 1,298,089 for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and 1,130,669 learners for the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), marking a key milestone for the first class under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
“The upcoming exams are a historic moment for our education system. We are managing the largest number of candidates ever recorded, and our teams are fully prepared to deliver credible examinations,” Dr Njeng’ere said.
To support the exercise, over 10,000 centre managers, 12,126 supervisors, 54,782 invigilators, 22,247 security officers, and 2,692 drivers have been deployed for KCSE alone.
For centres hosting both KJSEA and KPSEA, KNEC has mobilised 24,213 centre managers, 26,479 supervisors, and 125,492 invigilators, ensuring smooth coordination across thousands of testing sites.
To combat examination malpractice, the council will maintain its personalised paper policy, introduced in 2024, where each paper bears a candidate’s name, index number, and signature on both the script and counterfoil. The measure aims to tighten accountability and reduce collusion.
Additionally, KNEC has expanded its storage and security infrastructure by installing 25 new examination containers in various sub-counties, bringing the total nationwide to 642.
The agency will also pilot digital smart padlocks in 250 containers a technological advancement designed to enhance real-time monitoring and prevent tampering during storage and distribution.
Education stakeholders have praised the council’s preparedness and reforms. “This year’s exams represent a logistical and technological milestone. The integrity systems KNEC is putting in place will safeguard credibility and restore public confidence,” said Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) official Moses Nthurima.
Security agencies have also been briefed to provide round-the-clock surveillance in examination centres across all 47 counties.
As Kenya prepares for this historic academic milestone, the 3.4 million candidates, from the youngest learners under CBC to secondary school leavers, will not only mark a test of academic achievement but also of Kenya’s commitment to upholding integrity and excellence in its education system.
