- KNEC has introduced a new rule requiring examination centres with fewer than 30 candidates to be hosted at approved centres during the 2026 KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE examinations.
- The Council has set strict infrastructure, registration and geographical requirements for host centres, limiting each to accommodating candidates from no more than three centres.
- KNEC has provided exemptions for centres in insecure areas, correctional facilities and those serving learners with special needs, subject to verification through Sub-County Directors of Education.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has introduced new arrangements for the hosting of examination and assessment centres with fewer than 30 candidates, setting a threshold that will determine where thousands of learners sit the 2026 KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE examinations and assessments.
Under the new guidelines, centres with fewer than 30 candidates will generally be required to have their candidates hosted at other approved centres during the 2026 examination and assessment period. The arrangement is intended to ensure that examination centres have adequate numbers of candidates and the facilities required for secure and efficient administration of national examinations and assessments. However, the new rules do not mean that every centre with fewer than 30 candidates will automatically be moved, as KNEC has provided specific circumstances under which such centres may retain their venues.
The 30-Candidate Threshold and Host Centre Requirements
The number of candidates registered at a centre will be a major consideration in determining whether it operates independently or is hosted elsewhere. Centres with fewer than 30 candidates will generally be hosted at approved centres that meet KNEC requirements, while for KPSEA and KJSEA, centres whose combined candidature reaches 30 or more may retain their premises as assessment venues. The arrangement places responsibility on education officials to identify suitable host centres and ensure the hosting process complies with KNEC requirements.
Not every school with 30 or more candidates will automatically qualify to host other centres. A host centre must have at least 30 candidates and possess the necessary facilities and infrastructure to accommodate additional candidates. The Sub-County Director of Education (SCDE) is required to inspect proposed host centres and confirm their suitability before approval. A host school must have a valid registration certificate issued by the County Education Board and adequate classrooms capable of meeting the required examination standards, including 1.22 metres of spacing on all sides, while schools hosting KCSE candidates undertaking practical subjects must have adequate laboratories and the necessary equipment. These requirements are intended to ensure that increased candidature does not compromise examination security, candidate welfare or the integrity of the assessment process.
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KNEC has also placed a limit on the number of centres that can be consolidated at one host school, with a host centre permitted to accommodate candidates from not more than three examination or assessment centres. The limitation is aimed at preventing excessive concentration of candidates at a single institution and ensuring host schools have sufficient capacity to manage the additional workload. The geographical relationship between host and hosted centres also matters: KNEC requires that both be located within the same sub-county and obtain examination materials from the same distribution centre or container, a requirement intended to simplify the movement and management of materials while strengthening security and accountability.
Roles and Responsibilities During Hosting
The Host Centre Manager will play a central role in administering examinations involving hosted candidates, responsible for collecting examination materials, coordinating the administration of examinations and returning candidates’ answer scripts to the designated distribution centre, making the host centre a critical link in maintaining the security and integrity of examination materials.
Moving candidates to another school, however, does not relieve their original centre managers of responsibility. Managers of hosted centres will still be required to present their candidates during rehearsal and remain present throughout every examination or assessment day, in addition to maintaining discipline and ensuring their candidates comply with all examination regulations. This means that while candidates may physically sit their examinations at another school, their original centre managers remain accountable for them throughout the examination period, effectively separating the physical examination venue from the administrative responsibility for the candidates.
Exemptions and the Role of Sub-County Education Offices
KNEC has recognised that some centres with fewer than 30 candidates may require special consideration because of their circumstances. Centres serving learners in areas affected by insecurity may be considered for exemption from the hosting arrangement, an allowance that also covers schools located in correctional facilities and prisons, as well as schools serving learners with special needs and disabilities. Such exemptions are subject to verification and approval through the prescribed process.
An important administrative requirement is that schools seeking exemption must channel their requests through the Sub-County Director of Education rather than applying directly to KNEC. SCDEs are required to examine and authenticate the requests before forwarding eligible cases to the Council, placing an important responsibility on sub-county education offices to ensure that only genuine cases are submitted for consideration.
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The new arrangements significantly increase the role of SCDEs in determining how small examination and assessment centres will be accommodated. SCDEs have been directed to use the KNEC portal to identify and select schools that will host centres with fewer than 30 candidates, and must also submit authenticated lists of centres seeking exemption using the prescribed format, ensuring verification at the local level before final decisions are made by KNEC.
What the New Rules Mean for Schools
For school heads and examination centre managers, the new guidelines make early preparation essential. Schools with fewer than 30 candidates will need to establish whether they qualify for an exemption or whether their candidates will be assigned to an approved host centre. Schools identified as potential hosts will also need to demonstrate that they have adequate classrooms, infrastructure, laboratories and other required facilities.
Centre managers will consequently have to prepare for two different possibilities: retaining their examination venue if they meet the applicable requirements, or making arrangements for their candidates to sit examinations at another approved centre.
By Hillary Muhalya
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