The government is under pressure to ensure that all candidates sitting the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations complete the assessment despite security threats, medical emergencies and logistical challenges.
The incidents have put the Ministry of Education and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) under pressure to show that the country has adequate contingency measures to protect learners and sustain the examination process.
With 1,048,355 candidates registered in 10,693 examination centres, the 2026 KCSE is the largest examination exercise in the country's history.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has said the government is working with security agencies and education officials to address emerging challenges without disrupting candidates' examinations.
One of the major interventions has been the relocation of candidates from two examination centres in Moyale, Marsabit County, following insecurity caused by clashes along the Kenya-Ethiopia border.
At least 220 candidates were affected after stray bullets hit Sessi Mixed Secondary School, prompting authorities to move the learners to safer examination venues.
The government has also made special arrangements for candidates admitted to hospital to continue sitting their papers, so that illness does not automatically prevent them from completing the examination.
The examination period has also been marked by the deaths of three candidates in separate incidents in Homa Bay, Uasin Gishu and Siaya counties. The incidents have renewed attention on the welfare and safety of learners during the examination.
Another challenge facing education authorities is absenteeism. Mr Ogamba said 13 candidates in Nairobi had not reported to their examination centres, prompting the Ministry of Education to enlist chiefs, assistant chiefs, police officers and Nyumba Kumi teams to trace them and establish the reasons for their absence.
The government is also dealing with examination security incidents, including violence at Nyabisase Mixed Secondary School in Kisii County, where examination officials and security personnel were reportedly attacked.
Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa has previously said the government established contingency arrangements to deal with flooding and other weather-related disruptions, including alternative transport and helicopter support where necessary.
The ministry now faces the task of ensuring that the remaining papers proceed smoothly while protecting candidates, examination personnel and the credibility of the national assessment.
The 2026 KCSE written examinations are scheduled to run until November 20.
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