The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has barred KCSE candidates from wearing wristwatches of any kind in examination rooms. Centre managers must now provide a wall clock in every room. The directive is dated Sunday, November 1. It comes as the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations enter their third week.
"No wristwatches of any kind for candidates in the examination room. Centre managers to provide wall clocks in every room," the message said, according to The Eastleigh Voice. Kenyans.co.ke reported that KNEC banned smartwatches and other advanced timepieces in 2023 but still allowed ordinary analogue watches. According to the outlet, the new directive covers analogue watches too.
The Eastleigh Voice reported that KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere set out four directives for running the papers with the largest numbers of candidates. Examination containers must be opened at exactly 7 am. Officers must follow the prescribed procedures when handling exam materials.
Mobile phones also face tighter control. Njengere said all phones in an examination centre must be switched off and kept in a lockable locker outside the exam room during a session. Centre managers must keep an approved weekly list of all authorised staff. Everyone on that list must carry their original national identity card while on exam duty.
According to Kenyans.co.ke, other personal electronics remain banned unless KNEC specifically allows them. These include tablets, laptops, Bluetooth earphones, recording devices and programmable calculators. Candidates may use approved non-programmable scientific calculators in some subjects if the paper permits it. Computers are allowed only in approved e-assessments that use authorised equipment.
Kenyans.co.ke said the measures aim to curb exam malpractice. The Daily Nation also reported on KNEC's new strategy to fight cheating in the KCSE. The Eastleigh Voice noted that the government has warned students, parents and teachers not to buy fake exam papers from fraudsters. Njengere ended his message with "Best wishes to all our candidates!"