The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) says it has received no reports of irregularities since the 2026 KCSE examination began. Its chairman described the integrity of the exam as "beyond any question" as the main written papers started on Monday.

KNEC Chairman Prof Julius Nyabundi spoke in Kisumu, where he watched the examination container opened at the Kisumu Central Deputy County Commissioner's office and papers handed to centre managers. He said he was confident the standards would hold until the last paper on 20 November.

Nyabundi told centre managers that much now depended on them. He said "the responsibility of the exams from this time on depends on them". He also praised the cooperation between KNEC, school heads and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

Two officers for every Kisumu school

Kisumu County Director of Education Magare Onduso said the county was ready. It has 25,849 candidates registered in 246 senior schools.

"Every school has two security officers who will be in the schools until they bring back the exams," Onduso said. He added that materials would be protected from collection to return.

Officials said some candidates might be sick or in hospital and that the county was still collecting information on such cases. They added that no serious problem had been reported so far.

Papers by helicopter in Mandera

In Mandera, 8,745 candidates (5,420 boys and 3,250 girls) are sitting the exams. KNEC has deployed two helicopters to deliver and monitor exam materials in parts of the county affected by insecurity and heavy rain.

County Director of Education Koriyow Hussein Ali said preparations were complete. He said multi-agency teams had been deployed across the county, with security agencies, teachers, supervisors and the TSC working together to follow KNEC rules. He urged officials to prevent any irregularities.

Week three of the exam period

The 2026 KCSE started on 19 October with oral, practical and low-candidature papers such as Aviation Technology, Electricity and Woodwork. This week the focus moves to the compulsory subjects, starting with English Paper 1 and Chemistry Paper 1 on Monday.

A record 1,048,355 candidates registered for the exam this year. KNEC has told centres to open containers at exactly 7am, keep phones out of exam rooms and use wall clocks now that wristwatches are banned.

Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo warned at the weekend that police were tracking anyone trying to sell fake or leaked papers.

Photos: KBC (Mandera County Director of Education Koriyow Hussein Ali oversees distribution of papers); KNEC via People Daily (KNEC headquarters, South C). Thumbnail design: HAMASTA MEDIA.