The government has rolled out a series of targeted measures to safeguard the administration of national examinations, even as heavy El Niño rains are expected to begin during the first week of October.

Narok County Director of Education (CDE) Peter Magiri stated that with 20,318 candidates scheduled to sit Kenya’s 2026 national examinations in the devolved unit, state agencies have put logistics in place to ensure seamless operations, despite potential weather disruptions.

Magiri indicated that to boost storage capacity across the county, authorities have installed additional containers in sub-counties, while field officers have also been put on standby to quickly respond to any emerging operational challenges throughout the examination period.

Speaking in his office, the CDE assured that security officials are closely monitoring Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), which kicked off on Monday, October 26, 2026, to curb any interference.

He pointed out that the state had crafted a multi-agency team to ensure that all systems are in place to guarantee the credibility of KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE examinations and ensure the process runs smoothly.

“A multi-agency framework is active, with relevant government ministries and agencies directed to provide support services to maintain security and seamless transport,” he said.

Magiri added, “To maintain open channels of communication and promptly address concerns from candidates, invigilators, and the public, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will operate a toll-free communication line throughout the exam season.

The CDE stated that the Ministry of Education has also activated contingency measures to respond to expected heavy rainfall in parts of the country during the examination period.

He said the government was prepared to address challenges from flooding, poor road networks, insecurity, and difficult terrain that could affect the movement of examination materials and candidates.

“Education officials have been directed to work closely with county commissioners, security agencies and local administrators to ensure examinations proceed without disruptions.

Special arrangements have also been made for learners with disabilities and those requiring additional support during the examination period,” he noted.

The CDE expressed confidence in the measures put in place and assured candidates, parents and schools that all assessments and examinations would be conducted fairly, securely and efficiently.

Narok Central Deputy County Commissioner Kennedy Mwang’ome noted that all managers at the examination centres within the devolved unit have been sensitised to uphold high standards of integrity to ensure that the process is not compromised.

KPSEA will run until October 28, while KJSEA will continue until October 30.

KCSE practical, oral and low-candidature papers are already underway, ahead of the main written examinations scheduled between November 2 and November 20.

Mwang’ome said the government had introduced additional security measures to prevent examination malpractice and protect the credibility of the national examinations.

The measures include additional examination storage containers, smart electronic padlocks, colour-coded examination materials and personalised question papers.

“We believe the measures will strengthen accountability and make it easier to track examination materials throughout the assessment and examination period,” he stated.

At the same time, Mwang’ome warned candidates, parents and the public against examination fraud, saying individuals claiming to have access to examination papers were con artists seeking to exploit desperate families.

He urged learners to rely on their preparation rather than seek leaked examination materials, assuring parents that security personnel were on high alert during the examinations.

Both KPSEA and KJSEA include multiple-choice questions answered on Optical Mark Reader (OMR) sheets, where KNEC has introduced a new format for shading these forms.

According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), 3,634,846 candidates are registered for this year’s national examinations and assessments across five categories: the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

KNEC figures show that 1,380,463 candidates are registered for KPSEA, while 1,206,028 are registered for KJSEA.

KPSEA is taken by Grade 6 learners completing primary school, while KJSEA is administered to Grade 9 learners completing junior school. The assessments form part of the competency-based education system.

The KILEA and KPLEA assessments for learners following intermediate and pre-vocational pathways are also scheduled to begin on October 26.

KNEC has also warned candidates against examination malpractice, cautioning that cheating could lead to cancellation of results. Candidates are expected to follow examination instructions and observe the rules governing their assessment centres.

KNEC has called on teachers, examination officials and candidates to uphold integrity and transparency throughout the assessment period.

The examinations mark another significant stage in Kenya’s transition from the 8-4-4 education system to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), which places greater emphasis on continuous assessment and practical competencies.

Under the CBE framework, learners are assessed at different stages of their education, with the results contributing to their overall academic progression.

  Unlike the previous 8-4-4 system, which relied heavily on national examinations at the end of primary and secondary school, the CBE assessment model incorporates school-based evaluations alongside national assessments.

The Grade 9 assessment is particularly significant, as it forms part of the process used to determine learners’ progression to senior school.

The commencement of the two assessments on Monday will see millions of learners across the country undertake another major milestone under Kenya’s evolving education system.

By Emily Kadzo