NAIROBI, Kenya – The results of this year’s Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) will be released in December, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, October 29, Ogamba said the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results will follow in January 2026.
He assured the public that preparations were on track to ensure all national examinations — from primary to secondary level — run smoothly and are released on schedule.
“The new system represents a fundamental shift from the old KCPE model, emphasising skills, creativity and continuous learning rather than one-off, high-stakes testing,” Ogamba said.
Over 3.4 Million Candidates Sitting National Exams
Data from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) show that a total of 3,424,836 learners are taking part in national assessments this year.
Of these, 996,078 students are sitting for the KCSE, 1,298,089 pupils for the KPSEA, and 1,130,669 learners for the KJSEA.
Grade 6 pupils sitting the KPSEA are completing their primary cycle, while Grade 9 learners under the KJSEA are transitioning from junior to senior school in January 2026 — a key milestone in Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) rollout.
The KPSEA exams, which began on October 27, will end on October 29, while the KJSEA will conclude on November 3. KCSE oral and practical papers commenced on October 21 and will continue through the end of the month.
Funding Shortfalls and Examiner Payments
Ogamba also addressed a Sh3.7 billion funding shortfall, which has affected the timely payment of examiners and facilitation for field officers.
“The delay in payment to examiners is due to exchequer releases. We’re working to ensure that once budgets for exams are approved, they are not slashed,” he told lawmakers during a session with the National Assembly Education Committee.
The CS emphasised that no school should demand exam-related payments from parents, saying the government is fully funding all national exams.
“No instruction has been given to any principal or headteacher to ask parents for money. That’s the government’s responsibility,” he said.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere urged the government to move from grant-based to capitation-based funding, arguing that the current system is unsustainable.
“Funding for exams should not be based on grants but on capitation. The Sh5.9 billion we received is not based on the number of candidates or centres,” Dr Njengere said.
Improving Logistics and Exam Security
To counter logistical disruptions, especially in flood-prone areas, the ministry has deployed helicopters, four-wheel drive vehicles, and a 24-hour command centre at KNEC headquarters.
Ogamba revealed that a policy framework for drone and helicopter use in future exam deliveries is being developed to enhance efficiency and security.
“We have reports of areas where vehicles couldn’t cross bridges due to flooding. We’ve activated contingency plans, including air support, to ensure exams continue without interruption,” he said.
The CS reiterated that the Competency-Based Education transition remains on schedule, with learners joining senior schools next year under three pathways: Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
Under the KJSEA, learners will receive result slips instead of certificates, reflecting their subject-level performance.
The final grade will comprise 60 per cent national assessment and 40 per cent classroom-based evaluations from Grades 7 and 8, capturing a broader view of each learner’s abilities.
