Nairobi, November 2- More than one million candidates across the country have begun their written Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, marking a major milestone in this year’s national assessment.
According to the Ministry of Education, 1,048,355 candidates are registered to sit the examinations in more than 10,000 centres countrywide. Candidates started with English Paper One in the morning, followed by Chemistry Paper One in the afternoon.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the examinations are expected to continue until November 20, with the government putting measures in place to ensure their smooth administration.
The ministry has also strengthened security around examination materials to prevent leakage and other forms of malpractice. Officials have warned candidates against impersonation, collusion and possession of unauthorised materials.
This year’s candidature represents a 5.27 per cent increase compared to 2025, when 995,860 candidates sat the examinations.
The 2026 KCSE examination is the second-last cohort under the 8-4-4 education system, as Kenya continues its transition to the Competency-Based Education curriculum.
