NAIROBI, Kenya – The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced a raft of new measures to bolster exam security and curb malpractice ahead of the 2025 national examinations, which kick off on October 17.
Among the most significant reforms is the introduction of personalised question papers for both the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and the inaugural Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
Each paper will bear a candidate’s name, index number, and signature panel, making impersonation nearly impossible.
Candidates will also answer questions directly in the exam booklet, which will contain detachable counterfoils collected separately after each paper.
KNEC says this system will enhance accountability and eliminate confusion during marking.
“This innovation promotes fairness, transparency, and integrity in the marking process. Every candidate will have a uniquely identifiable paper, reducing the chances of cheating,” said KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere during the official launch of the 2025 exam season at Mtihani House in South C, Nairobi.
The council will also pilot digital smart padlocks on 250 exam storage containers.
The high-tech locks, which provide real-time tracking, are expected to reinforce safeguards against unauthorised access. Officers responsible for managing the devices will undergo training before the rollout.
Njengere noted that the double collection method—where papers for morning and afternoon sessions are collected separately—will continue, a move credited with reducing early leaks in past years.
This year’s examinations will see a record 3.42 million learners tested: 996,078 candidates for KCSE, 1,298,089 for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and 1,130,669 for the KJSEA.
To manage the process, KNEC will deploy 54,782 invigilators and 22,247 security officers nationwide.
“Supervisors and invigilators are the frontline defenders of exam credibility. We count on their professionalism to safeguard the future of our learners,” Njengere said.
KNEC Chairperson Julius Nyabudi added that the reforms were designed to ensure that learner performance reflects genuine effort.
“In administering examinations and assessments, we must ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity to maintain the credibility of our education system,” he said.
The new measures come as KNEC faces mounting pressure to seal loopholes that have in the past allowed exam leaks and irregularities, undermining public confidence in the country’s education system.
