Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has announced special arrangements for 12 candidates sitting the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations who are in hospitals and correctional facilities.
In a statement issued on Monday, November 2, the Ministry of Education confirmed that seven candidates were hospitalized, while five others were in correctional facilities.
“Special arrangements have been made to deliver and administer examinations to 7 hospitalized candidates and 5 candidates in correctional facilities,” part of the statement read.
Under the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) examination administration guidelines, candidates unable to report to their registered centers due to exceptional circumstances are recognized.
The special arrangements come as 1,048,355 candidates sit the 2026 KCSE examinations across 10,693 centers countrywide.
How KNEC Administers Exams Outside Regular Centers
KNEC requires cases involving candidates sitting examinations away from their registered centers to be reported to the Council immediately so it can make the necessary arrangements.
However, such candidates should not be marked absent in the examination attendance records. Instead, the supervisor must indicate where the candidate sat the paper in the Script Control Form and Certificate of Supervision.
The center manager must also include the details in their report, while Sub-County Directors of Education must report on candidates who sit examinations outside their sub-counties.
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KNEC further requires answer scripts from such candidates to be packed separately in special hardship return envelopes at the venues where the examinations are administered.
“Any case of a candidate who is unable to present themselves at their centers but is sitting the assessment/examination should be reported to KNEC immediately, and if possible, within a reasonable time to enable KNEC to plan accordingly. The answer sheets for hardship cases shall be packed in a special Hardship return envelope at the venue the candidate sits for assessment/examination,” KNEC directs
The Council must also capture the cases in its CP2 portal.
Hospitalized candidates must also be assigned an invigilator and a security officer, and the officials must account for the days they oversee the examinations.
Additionally, the guidelines also make special provision for practical examinations.
Science and technical practical papers must be held at designated examination centers, and Sub-County Directors of Education are expected to plan for hospitalized or convicted candidates to access those facilities.
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Ogamba on Examination Center Relocation
Ogamba has affirmed the relocation of two Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination centers in Moyale Sub-County, Marsabit County.
The relocation followed reports that stray bullets from fighting across the Ethiopian border struck Sessi Mixed Secondary School.
“We are at the ready to take such measures as may be necessary to address any emerging challenges to the examination processes. Earlier today, for example, we relocated two examination centers in Moyale Sub-County, Marsabit County, in view of the insecurity occasioned by clan clashes along the Kenya-Ethiopia border,” Ogamba explained.
Moyale Deputy County Commissioner Benedict Munywoki confirmed that candidates from the affected schools.
Further, Marsabit County Director of Education William Kamugunah also assured candidates and parents that the situation was under control.
Members of the public have been urged to report examination fraud and malpractice through KNEC’s toll-free numbers, 0800721410 and 0800724900.
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