2026 KCSE Exams Begin as KNEC Releases Examination Timetables

The 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations have begun, with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) releasing timetables outlining the dates and durations.

In an update, KNEC said the examination period begins on Monday, October 19, with candidates scheduled to undertake oral examinations in French, German, Kenyan Sign Language and Arabic, alongside practical examinations in Music.

The French, German and Kenyan Sign Language examinations are scheduled to run from Monday, October 19, to Friday, October 23.

Each candidate will be allocated 15 minutes for the respective examination.

The Music practical examination, listed under paper code 511/1, will also take place during the same period, with each candidate allocated 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Arabic oral examination, listed under paper code 503/3, is scheduled to run from Monday, October 19, to Monday, October 26. Candidates will be allocated 15 minutes each.

KNEC has also released a timetable for the Home Science (Foods and Nutrition) practical planning session scheduled for Wednesday, October 21.

The session, listed under paper code 441/3, will last 30 minutes for candidates undertaking the standard examination and those using large-print papers.

Candidates using Braille papers will be allocated one hour to complete the practical planning session.

This comes weeks after KNEV announced that it will administer national examinations and assessments to more than 3.6 million candidates between October and November.

Speaking on Monday, October 5, KNEC CEO David Njengere said the examinations and assessments will involve a total of 3,634,846 candidates during the period running from October 16 to November 20, 2026.

The large-scale exercise will require thousands of professionals to oversee the administration and management of the examinations and assessments across the country.

"KNEC will engage a total of 342,005 contracted professionals to facilitate the conduct and management of the field administration process," he said.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba warned candidates, centre managers, supervisors and invigilators against engaging in examination malpractice, saying those found violating the regulations would face legal consequences.

"Let me affirm today that we will have no mercy on anyone who will be found engaging in any form of malpractice. All candidates, centre managers, supervisors and invigilators must comply with examination regulations, failing which they will be subjected to the full force of the law," he said.

Ogamba also raised concerns over the expected heavy rains and called for measures to ensure the weather does not disrupt the examination and assessment process.

"As we are all aware, the weatherman has warned us of impending El Nino rains. We must, therefore, put in place all appropriate measures to avert disruptions to the examination and assessment processes on account of the heavy rains anticipated. 

"We will face this challenge through a Whole-of-Government approach, that also involves all stakeholders as relevant. Field officers from all the relevant Ministries and agencies shall be on standby to provide whatever support that will be required to ensure that our processes run seamlessly and that none of our candidates are unnecessarily disadvantaged," he added.