The high candidature Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations began on Monday across the country on the same day the candidates for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment concluded their tests.
In the South Rift region, candidates at Litein Boys High School, in Kericho County which was recently reopened, are among thousands of candidates sitting for their examinations, following a court directive that allowed them to resume studies.
The 429 candidates had been sent home alongside other learners and the school administration later demanded Sh49,699 per student to cover losses from the unrest, which caused damage estimated at about Sh100million.
Education CS Julius Ogamba addressing form four learners at Litein Boys' High School in Bureti, Kericho County on October 27, 2025.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
However, the High Court in Kericho intervened, slashing the charge to Sh25,000 and permitting payments in three instalments.
In Samburu County, the government has assured learners and teachers of heightened security in areas prone to banditry. The County Commissioner John Cheruiyot said security has been heightened in all examination centres in the region.
The administrator said all departments were working in coordination, to ensure the exams were completed smoothly. The administrator revealed that they will airlift examination materials to the designated examination centres if need arises.
"A chopper is on standby, to help us airlift examination materials to designated centres should need arise. We are determined to have this exercise run smoothly," he said.
A spot check in the region by the Nation revealed that most schools started their exams at the scheduled time.
In Nakuru, the county commissioner Loyford Kibaara said that security was beefed up in all examination centres to ensure the tests run smoothly, as he warned against any form of malpractice.
Nakuru East Sub-County Senior Deputy County Commissioner, Simiyu Were, supervised the opening of the examination containers at the Nakuru County Commissioner’s offices, where he called on parents and the public to support candidates, by creating a calm and conducive environment.
He noted that multi-agency teams involving education officers, security personnel, and local administrators were working together to ensure the examinations run smoothly and without interference.
An invigilator distributes KCSE English Paper One question sheets to Nakuru Girls High School candidates on November 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
In the Mt Kenya region, a candidate is writing her exams at the Nanyuki Level Five Hospital in Laikipia County after giving birth.
County Director of Education Ms Bridget Wambua said the girl from a school in Laikipia North Sub-county was admitted to the hospital last week where she delivered but later experienced some complications.
“The student is still under medical observation and under the circumstances, she will write the exams in the ward at the medical facility. Necessary arrangements have been put in place to ensure she is comfortable during the exam period,” Ms Wambua said.
She added that despite the heavy rains pounding the region, no major challenges were witnessed when the examinations kicked off officially across the 143 centres.
A total of 11,162 candidates were registered for the 2025 Form Four exams with 5,533 being girls against 5,529 boys. Among these are 68 private candidates who are being hosted at Thingithu Boys Secondary School.
Last Friday, the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) CEO Dr David Njeng’ere rolled out a smart padlocks distribution exercise in Laikipia County.
The padlocks that are digitally linked to the KNEC headquarters is one of the strategies being employed to protect the credibility of the national exam.
At the same time, at least 163, 925 candidates are sitting their KCSE examination in the Eastern region.
According to the regional Education Director Mr Fredrick Muturi, the examination kicked off without any hitches or flaws in all the 2,218 centres. He reiterated that they were determined to deliver a credible examination in the region.
He said security officers have been deployed in all the centres to ensure candidates write their tests without any interference.
In North Eastern Kenya, the exams also kicked off without major incidents, with Mr Adan Roble, the Regional Director of Education saying “We have commenced on a positive note with all the centers starting the examination on time in the region.”
Each county has at least two helicopters to help in distribution of examination materials and invigilators in areas that experienced heavy rainfall including Balambala in Garissa and Wajir North.
Mr Roble said the helicopters stationed in Mandera County are also being used to distribute examination materials and officials in areas prone to insecurity.
The region has a total of 239 centres and 27,018 candidates – 16,465 boys and 10,552 girls.
Langalanga Mixed Secondary School Principal Rufina Nkonge carries KCSE examination papers after receiving them from Kenya National Examination Council officials from the holding container on November 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
One student will be sitting her national examinations in hospital after being a victim of the Elgeyo Marakwet landslides experienced in the Rift Valley region.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the unfortunate events on November 1 had affected some of the exam centres, even as he sent condolences to families affected.
"Unfortunately, one student was hurt on the left hand and is at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. We have made arrangements that she does the papers from the hospital," said Mr Ogamba.
He was speaking in Kwale County during the official opening of the examination's container to centre managers at the Matuga Deputy County Commissioner's office.
He further said the government is working to ensure that there are no barriers to the distribution of examinations especially in areas experiencing adverse weather conditions.
"We have put in place a number of choppers distributing exams including in Trans Nzoia where it rained, to ensure each school gets materials without challenges," he said, adding that the government will ensure all candidates do not miss examinations.
An invigilator distributes KCSE English paper one question sheets at Kakamega National School on November 3, 2025.
Photo credit: Isaac Wale | Nation Media Group
He said to curb malpractices, the government is applying a new examination mechanism that will ensure no student will be discriminated against during marking.
The move includes anonymising learners through having serial numbers on their papers and plucking out the pages with their names, making it difficult for those marking to know the school or which region the student comes from.
"Nobody should be seen with a phone in a centre. If that happens it is easier to identify who did it. This ensures we don't punish a school or class, but individuals involved in the malpractice," he said.
He added that the ministry is working with the ODPP and in case anyone was found aiding students in cheating, criminal charges will be taken against them and presented in court. If found guilty, they would be jailed and interdicted not to work with the ministry again.
The CS said that the government is committed to ensuring 100 per cent transition and candidates, whatever their grades, will move to the next level of education.
"The government has facilities and institutions to absorb those who will get various grades. From university, to.TVETs and Vocational Colleges. We have enough facilities to take all our students hence no need to engage in malpractice to get a grade that is not theirs," he said.
CS Ogamba added that the reason this year had the largest number of candidates sitting for the examinations was because of the Grade 9 cohort which had 1,000,030 students that have raised the number.
In Tana River County, enhanced security measures were put in place, particularly in flood-prone areas. Deputy County Commissioner Andrew Mutua said the government has deployed smart padlock security containers in areas that are often affected by floods and other effects of climate change to safeguard examination materials from potential disruptions caused by weather-related challenges.
The move, he said, is aimed at safeguarding examination materials from potential disruptions caused by weather-related challenges.
In Lamu, Education Director Zachary Mutuiri said they are expecting good results this year since the region has witnessed a calm and peaceful environment free of insecurity, unrest and harsh weather as compared to the previous years.
In Mombasa, County Director of Education Mr Musibo Kitui reminded teachers and supervisors to work as a team and maintain professionalism. He also directed that mobile phones be surrendered as per examination regulations to ensure transparency and avoid malpractice.
At the Voi Deputy County Commissioner’s office in Taita Taveta County, Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) officer Pauline Waweru supervised the opening of the examination container and urged centre managers and supervisors to uphold the integrity of the process.
Reporting by Siago Cece, Stephen Oduor, Kalume Kazungu, Mishi Gongo, Lucy Mkanyika, Mwangi Ndirangu, George Munene, Manase Otsialo, Eric Matara, Geoffrey Ondieki and Mercy Koskei
