More than 960,000 students across the country have begun their final stretch of secondary education as the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination officially kicks off.
The nationwide exams opened with oral tests in foreign and sign languages including German, French, Arabic, and Kenyan Sign Language marking the start of a rigorous testing period that will span several weeks. These will be followed by practical examinations running from October 22 to October 31.
According to the official KNEC timetable, written papers will commence on Tuesday, November 4, and continue until Friday, November 21, 2025.
Once the KCSE concludes, attention will shift to younger learners as the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) take center stage. The two assessments will be conducted concurrently from October 27 to 29, following rehearsals on October 24.
Earlier, KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere revealed that a total of 996,078 candidates had registered for this year’s KCSE a reflection of the steady growth in enrollment across the country’s secondary schools.
The examinations mark a critical milestone for thousands of students whose results will determine their transition into higher education and professional pathways.
