Naema Celestine 
Faith Nyongesa
The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations officially began on Monday, with candidates from 10,755 centers participating.
The number of candidates for the 2024 exams has risen to 965,501, a notable increase from the 899,453 who took the exam in 2023.The examinations follow a two-week period of practical assessments for optional subjects, which started on October 22.
The entire examination process is set to conclude with the last paper on November 22, while the marking is expected to be finalized by the end of December.David Njeng’ere, the Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec), confirmed that all necessary examination materials have been distributed to 617 centers.
This marks an increase from the 576 centers used in 2023, aiming to enhance efficiency by minimizing the distance schools need to travel to collect materials.”The preparations are complete, and all materials are securely stored in containers. Examination officials have been briefed on the new innovations for administering the exams, including the double collection of papers, which helps prevent early exposure.
Additionally, we have added 41 containers to address distance challenges for certain schools,” he stated.Dr. Njeng’ere will personally oversee the examination process in Narok County, with other high-ranking officials also monitoring the situation nationwide. He emphasized the measures taken by the government to prevent cheating during the examinations.
To further reduce the likelihood of malpractice, Knec has implemented a double collection strategy for the examination materials. In this system, papers for the first session are collected at 7 AM and given to students at 8 AM, while the second session’s papers are collected at 12:30 PM and administered at 2 PM.
This approach limits the time exam materials are held by officials.According to Dr. Njeng’ere, this method has had a positive side effect, providing candidates with more downtime between papers to relieve stress, as the goal of the exams is to assess knowledge without undue pressure.
To combat the issue of examination content being shared via mobile phones, all examination officials will be required to hand over their devices to the center supervisor, who will secure them in a locked desk during the exams.So far, Knec has not encountered any significant logistical challenges related to adverse weather conditions, although they remain prepared for any unexpected changes.
In the past, Knec has collaborated with the Communications Authority and telecom companies to shut down social media platforms that were reported to be selling leaked examination content.
