In a sweeping move to safeguard the integrity of national tests, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced a robust package of new security measures for the 2025 examinations, including personalized exam papers for every candidate and a pilot of digital smart padlocks on storage containers.
The reforms, officially launched by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba and KNEC CEO Dr. David Njengere, are designed to create a “fortress” around the examination process, preventing the leaks and malpractices that have plagued the system in previous years.
A Paper with Your Name on It
A cornerstone of the new strategy is the introduction of personalised examination papers for all candidates sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
“Each paper will bear the candidate’s name and index number, and students will be required to sign both the paper and its counterfoil,” Dr. Njengere explained. Supervisors will then collect and submit the signed counterfoils separately, creating a direct chain of accountability for every single script.
This move is expected to make it exponentially more difficult to swap or illegally distribute papers without immediate detection.
Tech-Enabled Security and Round-the-Clock Vigilance
To secure exam materials before they even reach the students, KNEC is deploying technology on multiple fronts. The council revealed that 25 new storage containers have been installed across the country, bringing the national total to 642.
In a significant pilot project, 250 of these containers will be fitted with digital smart padlocks.
“To further strengthen the security of examination materials, KNEC will pilot the use of digital smart padlocks in 250 containers this year. The officers assigned to manage these containers will undergo training on the use of these padlocks,” Njengere said. These smart locks will provide government monitors with real-time oversight of storage sites.
Further coordinating the national effort, a 24-hour call command centre will be established to manage responses and address emerging issues throughout the entire examination period.
Vetted Officers and Staggered Collection
Human elements of the exam process are also being tightened. The government will deploy at least two security officers at each KCSE examination centre. In a bid to root out malpractice from within, KNEC and the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) will only deploy teachers who have been vetted and deemed to be of high integrity as invigilators and supervisors.
“All field officers, centre managers, and supervisors will undergo mandatory sensitisation between October 6 and 9 to ensure full compliance with the new measures,” Dr. Njengere affirmed.
The council will also continue its “double collection” procedure for KCSE papers, where exam scripts for the second session are only released from storage shortly before the scheduled exam, minimizing the window for early exposure.
Massive Cohort to Sit Under New System
The 2025 national examinations are set to be a landmark event. According to KNEC, a total of 3,424,836 candidates are registered. This includes 996,078 for the KCSE, 1,298,089 for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and a historic 1,130,669 learners—the first cohort under the Competency-Based Curriculum—who will take the inaugural KJSEA.
The new guidelines also extend to School-Based Assessments (SBAs), with schools directed to upload results for Grades 4, 5, 7, and 8, which will count toward learners’ final KPSEA and KJSEA scores.
The examination season is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 17, and conclude on Friday, November 21, 2025, marking one of the most secure and closely watched administrations in Kenya’s history.
