- Kenya will proceed with national examinations despite forecasts of enhanced October–December rainfall and flooding risks.
- Authorities are mapping vulnerable centres and preparing helicopters, boats and drones for inaccessible areas.
- Contingency measures will also cover food supplies, alternative centres and adjusted school operating hours.
The government has ruled out postponement of national examinations despite forecasts of enhanced El Niño rains between October and December, saying elaborate measures have been put in place to ensure candidates sit their examinations as scheduled.
The assurance comes as the country prepares for the 2026 examination season, with the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) scheduled to begin on October 26, while the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) written examinations will run through November. The official KNEC timetable shows the wider KCSE examination period running from October 19 to November 20.
Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and Director of Administration Kanyi Gioko said the government was preparing for possible disruptions caused by flooding and impassable roads.
Gioko said examinations could not simply be postponed because all candidates are required to sit the same papers at the same time across the country. Speaking during the National Climate Outlook Forum, he said national examinations “cannot be postponed” or delayed because candidates must sit papers simultaneously.
Government maps high-risk examination centres
The government has consequently embarked on mapping potential risk areas across the country. The Kenya Meteorological Department has warned that 43 counties are likely to experience above-normal rainfall during the October–December season, raising concerns over accessibility to some schools and examination centres.
Schools and examination centres located in flood-prone areas will be identified early, with authorities considering temporary relocation or closure of some centres where necessary.
The government has also activated contingency plans for the transportation of examination materials in areas where roads could be cut off by floods.
Helicopters and drones are expected to be used to deliver examination materials to inaccessible areas, while other alternative means of transport could be deployed depending on local conditions. The Ministry has said drones are among the options being considered for the first time during the 2026 examination period.
Schools told to prepare for disruptions
The Ministry of Education has further directed schools to prepare for possible disruptions to feeding programmes by pre-positioning food supplies and improving storage arrangements before the rains intensify.
Schools in areas prone to flooding will also be allowed to adopt alternative operating arrangements depending on local conditions.
In Wajir and other flood-prone areas, for instance, schools could open as early as 6am and close earlier to allow learners and staff to travel before floodwaters rise. Gioko specifically cited Wajir as an area where schools may need to adjust their hours when flooding cuts off roads later in the day.
The government said the measures are intended to ensure that adverse weather does not deny learners an opportunity to undertake their assessments.
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Education officials have urged school heads, teachers, parents and candidates to remain alert, follow official guidance and prepare for possible changes in movement and examination-centre arrangements as the rainy season approaches.
By Kimwele Mutuku
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