More than one million candidates have begun sitting the written papers in the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, marking another major step in the country’s transition from the 8-4-4 education system to Competency Based Education.
A total of 1,048,355 candidates across more than 10,000 examination centres are scheduled to sit English Paper 1 in the morning, followed by Chemistry Paper 1 in the afternoon. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that the national examination will run until Friday, November 20, with examination officials expected to maintain strict supervision throughout the exercise.
The 2026 KCSE examination officially started on October 19 with oral, practical and low candidature papers before candidates proceeded to the written examinations. Ogamba said the government, working with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and other partners, had strengthened security arrangements to protect examination materials and prevent irregularities.
“The Government, through KNEC and its partners, has strengthened the security of examination materials, significantly reducing the risk of leakage and early exposure,” said Ogamba.
However, the Cabinet Secretary warned that examination malpractice remained a challenge, particularly cases involving impersonation, collusion and possession of prohibited materials. He urged examination officials to remain alert and ensure candidates follow the rules to protect the credibility of the national assessment.
The Ministry of Education has also put measures in place to minimise disruptions during the examination period, particularly as the country prepares for the expected El Niño rains towards the end of the year. Ogamba said protecting candidates and examination personnel remained a priority, adding that authorities would respond quickly to any disruptions and support affected candidates in line with KNEC guidelines.
This year’s examination has attracted the highest number of candidates in recent years, with 1,048,355 learners registered compared to 995,860 in 2025 and 965,172 in 2024. Ministry of Education records indicate that the 2026 candidature represents a 5.27 per cent increase from the previous year’s total, highlighting the growing number of learners completing secondary education.
The examination also carries significance as Kenya prepares for the final KCSE cohort, which is expected to sit the national examination in 2027. The country is progressively replacing the 8-4-4 system with Competency-Based Education, marking a major shift in the structure of basic education.