Candidates sitting the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination have today, Friday, October 16, taken part in school rehearsals ahead of the oral and practical tests scheduled to begin on Monday, October 19.
According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) timetable, oral and practical papers begin on Monday, October 19. The first subjects are French, German, Arabic, Music and Kenyan Sign Language.
The rehearsals are meant to familiarise candidates with examination regulations, answer-sheet requirements and procedures before the real papers begin. School administrators and officials will also use the period to brief candidates on what is expected of them.
Papers with large candidature, which are the main written exams, start on Monday, November 2, and are scheduled to end on Friday, November 20. The KCSE therefore runs for about five weeks from the first oral paper, including roughly three weeks of written papers.
KNEC says 1,048,355 candidates are registered for the 2026 KCSE. It is the first time in Kenya’s history the figure has passed one million.
The KCSE is one of three national assessments this year. The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) has 1,380,463 learners, and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) has 1,206,028. KPSEA and KJSEA are both scheduled for October 26 to 30.
KNEC Chief Executive David Njengere said the Council will assess a total of 3,634,846 candidates across the three levels.
The 2026 KCSE is among the last cohorts under the 8-4-4 system before the full shift to the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
Candidates have been urged to stay focused, follow instructions and use the rehearsals to prepare for the examinations.
Reader Discussion (0)
Sign in to comment