The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has imposed strict rules as the marking of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams start. The Council maintained that the rules aim to safeguard credibility of the whole process.
According to KNEC, examiners from schools flagged for involvement in KCSE irregularities have been removed from the 2025 marking roster, and the affected teachers informed of the move.
The council has also announced that the invigilators and supervisors from compromised centres last year and this year are also being removed from the marking exercise.
“This year, 32,558 examiners will undertake the KCSE marking, guided by detailed requirements around accuracy, speed and confidentiality. All scripts will undergo strict double-checking and validation before final results are approved.” KNEC said
To enhance fairness, all candidates’ names and index numbers will be removed before marking. The identification slips will be torn off and packed separately after each paper.
Other measures KNEC has put in place include full supervisory chain where all examiners, except those in charge will work under senior examiners and must follow their instructions.
Mobile phones are banned in marking rooms and will be kept under supervision; examiners must stay at marking centres unless cleared by KNEC.
ALSO READ:
Examiners are barred from discussing marking matters on social media or with the press and everyone entering or leaving a marking centre will undergo security checks. Further, they must disclose any connection to candidates or centres to avoid conflict.
KNEC boss David Njeng’ere said the council will only retain examiners who uphold the highest levels of integrity.
“Any examiner who presents false claims or attempts to defraud the Council will be dismissed instantly. Future engagements will depend on how well one observes the rules and regulations,” he said.
The 2025 KCSE saw the introduction of personalised exam papers, each printed with the candidate’s details. This measure prevents impersonation.
KNEC also introduced distinct packaging for morning and afternoon papers to guarantee secure handling and tracking.
The strict rules follows rigorous completion of the 2025 KCSE exams where 418 candidates were caught engaging in malpractice, down from 614 in the previous year, a decline the Ministry of Education attributes to tougher surveillance and more meticulous planning.
By Juma Ndigo
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
