Over 3 million candidates sit national assessments

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Julius Ogamba, who presided over the distribution of exam papers at Bureti sub-County headquarters in Kericho County on Monday, assured candidates, teachers and stakeholders that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure high integrity is maintained during the assessments.

At least 3,428,729 candidates are sitting for the exams in 68,546 centres. There are 1,298,089 KPSEA candidates in 32,843 centres; 1,130,669 KJSEA candidates in 24,366 centres; 2,414 Kilea candidates in 391 centres, while 1,479 candidates are domiciled in 175 centres.

“KPSEA papers are fully multiple choice, while KJSEA combines multiple choice and essay questions. Candidates will both shade and write their answers in the question papers,” said Mr Ogamba. “Police will continue overseeing KCSE exams for security reasons, while other assessments—KPSEA, KJSEA, Kilea and KPLEA—will be managed by education officials and school managers under school-based arrangements.”

Some centres in Trans Nzoia County were hit by a mix-up of exam papers. 

Among the affected centres were Matisi Friends, Central Primary School, St John’s Education Centre, Linta Academy, and Royal Victor Education Centre. County Director of Education Ms Pamela Akello confirmed the incident, assuring parents and candidates that the situation was under control.

Read: KPSEA and KJSEA exams begin ahead of historic transition to senior school

“Since we did not have an official from the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) present today, I have coordinated with my officers to deliver the papers,” said Ms Akello during the morning distribution of papers at the County Commissioner’s office.

The mix-up caused delays but did not affect the integrity of the exams.

“The issue only affected candidates who were registered but did not attend rehearsals to verify their names and details,” she said. Her office had liaised with security agencies to ensure the exams run without further disruption.

Trans Nzoia County has 24,312 KJSEA candidates in public schools and 23,097 in private institutions. KPSEA has 26,961 candidates in public schools and 5,174 in private ones.

A spot check at Kitale School and Mary Immaculate Primary School showed examinations proceeding smoothly. Deputy Head teacher Paul Eseme reported that only one candidate was absent.

In neighbouring Uasin Gishu and Baringo counties, the tests began smoothly under tight security. Special arrangements were made for 10 candidates sitting the KPSEA and KJSEA exams from various hospitals in Eldoret.

County Director of Education David Koech said, “We have ten candidates sitting exams in different hospitals in Eldoret. Among them is one who recently delivered a baby. Most are referral cases from neighbouring counties, and as the host county, we are responsible for facilitating their examinations.”

He commended teachers, Knec officials, and security personnel for ensuring a smooth process and urged residents near exam centres to comply with all regulations issued by security officers.

Uasin Gishu County Police Commander Benjamin Mwanthi assured stakeholders of adequate security and warned against attempts to compromise the examination process. He also instructed police officers manning centres not to carry mobile phones while on duty.

In Baringo County, examinations began without a hitch across all 756 centres, with materials distributed from 19 containers.

County Director of Education Kipruto Kosgei said 15,672 candidates were sitting for KPSEA and 15,411 for the KJSEA.

“We have distributed all examination materials and both assessments have commenced well in all centres. Monitoring is ongoing and learners are in their respective schools doing their assessments,” said Dr Kosgei.

Tight security 

Candidates in two schools, Noosukro and Loruk Primary, that were previously affected by flooding are also sitting their exams after water levels receded.

“We have strengthened security for all stakeholders involved in the ongoing examinations, and I caution my officers to strictly observe Knec regulations,” said Commander Mwanthi.

All government officers and support staff involved in marking the exams are required to surrender their phones for the duration of the exams to curb cases of cheating.

At Kisumu Central, the examination container was officially opened at 6:00 am.

Kisumu Deputy County Commissioner Langat Bosek led the process of distributing the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA) examination papers.

“We are trying to move away from the term examinations towards the concept of assessments. We are seeking to minimise the presence of security personnel in examination venues,” said Knec chairman, Prof Julius Nyabundi.

In Kisii, the KPSEA and KJSEA examinations commenced smoothly across the county, with no major incidents reported.

In Kisii Central sub-County, Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Joseph Mwangi oversaw the distribution of examination materials.

According to the DCC, candidates across the Sub-county, which covers the entire Nyaribari Chache Constituency, will sit their examinations in 78 public schools and 14 private centres.

Mr Mwangi reiterated the ban on mobile phones in examination rooms, warning that anyone found flouting regulations will face disciplinary action.

“We have implemented adequate measures to ensure all our candidates sit their exams in a safe and orderly environment. Examination officials have been properly briefed, and we do not expect to encounter any cases of malpractice,” Mr Mwangi said

In Homa Bay, Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) Director, Prof Charles Ong’ondo, while overseeing the distribution of exam materials, announced that the results for KPSEA and KJSEA will be released before Christmas.

Prof Ong’ondo, who also serves as a board member of Knec, said the assessments represent a gradual shift from the long-standing 8-4-4 education system. The final class under the old curriculum will advance to Form Three next year.

The Director urged parents, teachers and students to view the exercise with calm and perspective.

“This should not be regarded as a matter of life and death, it is simply an assessment designed to help understand our learners better," he noted.

For the first time, police officers will not be stationed within schools. This new approach is intended to foster trust between teachers and examination authorities.

“We are moving towards a time when examination materials can be delivered to schools and remain untouched, not because of fear, but because of integrity,” he said.

He, however, clarified that the forthcoming Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will still require police presence.

This year’s examination containers were secured with two padlocks, with keys held separately by the Deputy County Commissioners and sub-County Education Directors, as part of measures to safeguard the contents.

Prof Ong’ondo emphasised that learners should be allowed to earn their results honestly.

“If we assist them, we only do them harm. Let every learner receive what they truly deserve,” he said.

County Commissioner Ronald Muiwawi acknowledged that trust in national examinations had been eroded in the past, citing cases where teachers aided students to obtain higher marks.

“It had become shameful that some learners, having cheated, could not perform when faced with greater challenges later in life. Let us impart knowledge the right way,” Mr Muiwawi said.

County Education Director Eunice Khaemba said 39,436 candidates are sitting KPSEA, while 36,496 are undertaking KJSEA.

“We do not anticipate any challenges during the examination period,” she said.

In Siaya, the examination container was opened promptly at 6 am.

“The school administrators arrived on time, and all the materials for the first day were collected without delay,” said Siaya Sub-County Deputy County Commissioner, Robert Ngetich.

As this marked the inaugural administration of the KJSEA, Mr Ngetich urged all participants; teachers, invigilators and candidates alike, to uphold the examination guidelines with utmost integrity.

“I call upon everyone involved, whether candidates or invigilators, to adhere strictly to the regulations. Let all candidates sit their examinations with honesty and discipline, without breaching any of the set rules," he emphasised.

At the Coast, the container storing assessment papers at the Kilifi North Deputy County Commissioner's office is among the few countrywide that were locked with two special digital padlocks. The padlocks have a special code and each key is marked for each respective designated officer.

Tana River Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Mr Andrew Mutua disclosed that while some students were reported missing in certain areas, none of the registered candidates will be sitting for the exams from hospitals or prisons. 

"We are not going to give up on them, we are sending out the chiefs today to ensure that we have 100 per cent sitting for the exams," he said. 

According to education officials, more than 5,000 candidates are sitting for the assessments across Tana River County. 

In Mombasa, light drizzles did little to dampen the spirits of teachers and candidates. Regional Director of Education, Ms Anne Kiilu urged teachers to continue motivating all learners throughout the examination period, saying the region aims to improve its academic standing.

“Encourage them through every paper. We want to change the narrative and put Coast at the top. I wish all our candidates success,” she said. 

At the Uhuru na Kazi building in Mombasa, centre managers and supervisors from Mvita sub-counties gathered by 5:00am to collect examination materials, under tight security. Mombasa County has 573 KPSEA centres hosting 27,498 candidates, and 273 KJSEA centres with 21,677 candidates.  

To ease logistics, each sub-county has a designated collection point, ensuring schools do not have to travel long distances to access exam materials. By 7:00 am, distribution of exam materials was complete in all sub-counties, marking a seamless start to the 2025 national examinations in Mombasa. 

In Taita Taveta, County Director of Education Khalif Hirey said all preparations had been finalised to ensure transparent exams across the county. The county has 205 centres for KPSEA and 194 for KJSEA where 7546 candidates and 6,867 candidates respectively will be sitting for the papers. 

While overseeing the opening of exam papers at the Voi DCC's office on Monday morning, Sub-county director Isaac Omari said they were fully prepared for the exercise with no incidents recorded.

In Lamu, a total of 36 KPSEA and KJSEA candidates from the terror-prone Boni Forest in Lamu County were on Monday relocated to Kiangwe comprehensive school where they are sitting for their 2025 tests. Lamu County Education Director Zachary Mutuiri says the move was taken since most of the schools in the area have few candidates and cannot meet the 15-candidate threshold to be treated as independent examinations centres. 

The 36 candidates include 16 from Mangai, 12 from Basuba and 8 from Milimani Comprehensive schools. 

At Mararani Comprehensive schools also in Boni Forest, all the KPSEA and KJSEA candidates were ferried to Kiunga Comprehensive school on the Kenya-Somalia border which is about 20 kilometres from the village, to sit for their examinations.

A total of 7,930 candidates including 3,498 KPSEA and 4,432 KJSEA candidates are sitting for this year's examinations across Lamu County. There are at least nine examination distribution centres in Lamu County including two in Lamu Central, two in Lamu West and five in Lamu East Sub-counties. 

The Nation also established that a KPSEA candidate from Faza Boys Comprehensive school in Lamu East had to sit his paper at the King Fahd County Referral Hospital where he is admitted after his hand broke. 

Another candidate from Ama Comprehensive school in Lamu Central will do his examinations under police custody due to undisclosed reasons. 

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Reporting by Mishi Gongo, Winnie Atieno, Lucy Mkanyika, Stephen Oduor, Maureen Ongala, Kalume Kazungu, Vitalis Kimutai, Elizabeth Ojina, Wycliffe Nyaberi, George Odiwuor, Evans Jaola, Titus Ominde, Florah Koech and Kassim Adinasi