Kenya's Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced that the government will take a zero-tolerance approach to examination malpractice during the 2026 national exams. With 3.63 million candidates set to sit for the exams, Ogamba warned that anyone found engaging in malpractice would face penalties. He made the announcement during the launch of the 2026 examination season, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of the assessments.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has registered a total of 3,634,896 candidates for the 2026 national examinations. This includes 1,380,463 learners for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment, 1,206,028 candidates for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment, and 1,048,355 candidates for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination. These numbers represent an increase from the previous year, with 1,298,089, 1,130,679, and 996,078 candidates respectively.
Ogamba emphasized that the increased candidature would put greater demands on examination personnel, materials, and logistics. He noted that the government would need to deploy more resources and personnel to ensure the smooth administration of the exams. The examination season also faces the threat of El Niño rains, which could disrupt the transportation and delivery of examination materials, particularly in areas prone to flooding and poor road access.
To mitigate the risks associated with the El Niño rains, the government has adopted a Whole-of-Government approach, with ministries and agencies expected to deploy officers and resources to ensure weather-related disruptions do not disadvantage candidates. The government has also installed 48 additional examination and assessment containers in sub-counties, increasing the number of storage facilities from 653 to 701.
Field officers are undergoing briefings ahead of the examinations, while KNEC will operate a toll-free communication line throughout the examination period to allow challenges to be reported and addressed. Ogamba urged teachers, parents, government agencies, professional bodies, and other stakeholders to work together to protect the examination process. He also reminded candidates, centre managers, supervisors, and invigilators to follow examination regulations.
President William Ruto has also warned against examination malpractice, urging teachers and examination officials to protect the credibility of the assessments. He emphasized the importance of maintaining the integrity of the examinations, noting that a certificate earned honestly opens doors for a lifetime, while a certificate obtained by cheating is a lie that follows its holder everywhere.
The government has identified examination malpractice such as paper leaks, impersonation, collusion, and unauthorized assistance as threats to the credibility of national examinations. Ogamba reiterated that the government would focus on fairness, credibility, and efficiency throughout the examination period and warned that anyone who attempts to undermine the process would face the full force of the law.
Key points
- The Kenyan government has warned of strict penalties for exam malpractice during the 2026 national exams.
- A total of 3.63 million candidates have been registered for the 2026 national examinations.
- The government has adopted a Whole-of-Government approach to mitigate the risks associated with the El Niño rains.
