A total of 3,428,729 candidates will be sitting for various national assessments and examinations, which is the highest number in Kenya’s history, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has said.
Speaking this morning at Litein District Commissioner’s offices in Bureti, Kericho County, the CS said 1,298,089 candidates would be sitting for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in 32,843 centres for Grade 6 learners and will run from 27th to 29th October this year.
The CS said 1,130,669 candidates would be sitting for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in 32,843 centres for Grade 9, which will run from 27th October to 3rd November this year.
The CS said 2,414 candidates would sit for the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), in 391 centres, following the Stage-Based Pathway, to run from 27th to 30th October this year.
1,479 candidates in the country will sit for Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) 175 centres, following the stage-based pathway which begins today, 27th October 2025 to 30th October 2025
The CS said 996,078 candidates will be sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination in 10,771 centres countrywide and are already underway, having started earlier with French, German, and Arabic oral examinations, Kenya Sign Language, Home Science, and Music.
“We are gathered here to oversee the opening of the first KNEC examination container; this morning marks the start of the national assessments,” CS Ogamba said.
“The high number of candidates’ growth reflects the continued success of our efforts in expanding access, inclusivity, and retention under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework,” Ogamba observed.
For smooth coordination and security, KPSEA and KJSEA materials will be collected once daily at 6.00am, while KCSE ones will be collected twice daily—at 7.00am for morning papers and at 12.3 pm. for afternoon papers,” ︎ he said.
The CS said this year, the Ministry of Education and KNEC have introduced several innovations and enhanced security measures to strengthen integrity and efficiency. These include Enhanced Question Paper Design, with The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) differing from the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) in structure and format.
KPSEA consists entirely of multiple-choice questions, while KJSEA combines multiple-choice and structured (essay-type) questions.
Candidates will shade some answers and write others directly in their question papers and each structured question paper is personalised, bearing the candidate’s name, centre, and a unique random number.
After completion, the identification section is detached and packed separately, ensuring that examiners do not see candidate names, a key measure to promote fairness and eliminate bias, Ogamba noted.
Other interventions included, improved security features examination/assessment materials have enhanced security markings and colour codes to distinguish different session papers and prevent mix-ups or early exposure.
Other measures include the introduction of Smart Digital Padlocks. For the first time, KNEC is piloting smart digital padlocks in 250 examination storage containers nationwide.
These locks are linked to the KNEC Command Centre, allowing real-time tracking of the exact time each container is opened and locked. CS Ogamba stated.
During the KCSE administration, all persons within an examination centre, including Centre Managers, Supervisors, Invigilators, Security Officers, and support staff, are required to surrender their mobile phones immediately upon receipt of examination materials, the Education CS said.
Phones will be secured in designated lockers until the end of the day’s sessions to prevent unauthorised communication.
The National Police Service will continue to oversee security for KCSE, while the other assessments, KPSEA, KJSEA, KILEA, and KPLEA will be managed by education officials and school managers under school-based arrangements, he said.
The Ministry of Education, Teachers Service Commission, and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration have put in place comprehensive measures to ensure that all examinations/assessments are conducted securely, fairly, and smoothly.
“I wish to thank all our teachers, security officers, examination officials, parents, and learners for their cooperation and dedication. I encourage all candidates to remain calm, focused, and honest throughout the examination period. Integrity and hard work are the true pathways to success,” CS Ogamba said.
Let us all, together, ensure that the 2025 examinations are remembered not only for their scale but for the integrity with which they were conducted and the hope they bring to our nation’s children,” the CS added.
By Dominic Cheres
