The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced that a record 3,424,836 candidates will sit for national exams in 2025, making it one of the largest assessments in the country’s history.
KNEC CEO David Njengere confirmed that the exam season will run from October 17 to November 21, 2025, covering the KCSE, KPSEA, and the inaugural KJSEA.
According to KNEC, the 2025 candidate breakdown includes:
- 996,078 candidates for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
- 1,298,089 learners for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA)
- 1,130,669 learners for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA)
“This is one of the largest examination undertakings in Kenya’s history. We have put in place measures to safeguard the credibility of the process and ensure fairness for all candidates,” said Njengere.
Tight Security Measures
KNEC has installed 25 new exam storage containers, raising the total to 642 nationwide, all guarded by 2,568 police officers. Each KCSE centre will have at least two officers present throughout the exam period.
To curb exam leaks, the council will maintain the double collection system for morning and afternoon papers, a practice credited with eliminating early exposure of exam materials.
Additionally, KNEC will pilot digital smart padlocks in 250 exam containers, enhancing the security of exam storage and distribution. Officers in charge of these containers will undergo special training.
Large-Scale Administration
The administration will involve tens of thousands of education personnel, including:
- 10,765 centre managers, 12,126 supervisors, 54,782 invigilators, and 22,247 security officers for KCSE alone.
- Over 24,213 centre managers, 26,479 supervisors, and 125,000 invigilators for primary and junior school assessments.
Njengere emphasised the role of teachers in ensuring integrity, noting that only teachers of high ethical standards have been cleared for exam duties in collaboration with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Support Systems
KNEC will continue running 24-hour command and call centres to monitor progress and provide real-time support throughout the examination period.
As the countdown begins, the Ministry of Education has urged candidates to stay focused. Njengere concluded: “The integrity of our exams defines the future of our learners. We must all play our role in protecting it.”
