The 2026 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) began on Monday across the country, with more than 2.5 million learners sitting the papers under tight security.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba assured parents, learners and candidates that the government has put elaborate measures in place to ensure a smooth, fair and credible process. He spoke at the Makindu Sub-County Commissioner's Office in Makueni County, where he witnessed the opening of the examination container at 6am and flagged off the distribution of materials to centres.
The KPSEA and KJSEA papers started at 8.30am. KPSEA ends on Wednesday, October 28, and KJSEA runs until Friday, October 30.
A total of 3,634,846 learners are registered for this year's national assessments and examinations, comprising 1,380,463 for KPSEA, 1,206,028 for KJSEA and 1,048,355 for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). Ogamba said the assessments are central to the rollout of Competency-Based Education (CBE), with KPSEA assessing the progress of Grade 6 learners and KJSEA evaluating the competencies acquired by Grade 9 learners before they move to senior school.
Ogamba said the government has increased the number of examination storage containers countrywide to ease access and cut long distances, especially for centres in remote areas. He said security has also been strengthened through smart electronic padlocks, colour-coding of assessment materials and personalised question papers meant to protect candidate identity and curb impersonation.
"The measures will improve traceability, discourage impersonation and safeguard the integrity of our national assessment results," he said.
He said that, unlike KCSE, KPSEA and KJSEA centres will not routinely have armed police officers unless security circumstances demand it, to avoid creating anxiety among young learners. "For KCSE, appropriate police deployment will continue at examination centres in line with established security protocols," he said, adding that security agencies will remain in charge of guarding storage facilities and escorting materials.
The CS warned that firm action will be taken against centre managers, supervisors, invigilators and other officials found engaging in malpractice. He also cautioned parents and candidates against fraudsters who claim to have leaked papers, describing such claims as a con. "I urge anyone with information on individuals demanding money in exchange for alleged examination papers to report to the relevant authorities," he said.
Ogamba urged parents and guardians to give candidates emotional and moral support during the assessments and wished all candidates success. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to delivering credible, secure and fair national assessments that give every learner an equal opportunity to show their abilities.
The KCSE began on October 19 with oral, practical and low-enrolment papers. The main written papers will run from November 2 to November 20, 2026.
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