The theory papers of the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) started on Monday, November 2. It is the second-last KCSE under the outgoing 8-4-4 curriculum, Pulse Live Kenya and The Star reported. The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has confirmed that the last KCSE will be held in 2027.
Education CS Julius Ogamba oversaw the opening of exam containers and the distribution of papers in Nyamira County, The Eastleigh Voice reported. According to The Star, Ogamba said the 2026 national examinations had been largely seamless. The Kenya News Agency, the government news service, reported a smooth start in Kwale and Chuka North. On Sunday, The Standard reported that cheating remains a problem as 8-4-4 nears its end.
Under Competency-Based Education (CBE), 8-4-4 gives way to a 2-6-3-3-3 structure. Learners spend two years in pre-primary, six in primary, three in junior school and three in senior school. The first CBE learners entered Grade 10 in January 2026. They are expected to finish Grade 12 in 2028, Pulse Live Kenya reported. From 2029, they will move on to universities, colleges and technical institutions.
At the end of Grade 12, learners will sit the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE) instead of KCSE. A single final exam will no longer decide a learner's result. School-based assessments in Grade 10 and Grade 11 each count for 15%. The Grade 12 national assessment carries the remaining 70%. Knec plans to pilot the senior-school summative assessment in 2027.
Senior school also brings subject choice. At Grade 10, learners pick one of three pathways. One covers sciences, technology and technical fields, another humanities, languages and business, and the third arts and sports. The choice depends on interests, strengths, assessment results and career plans. A Ministry of Education platform lets learners choose pathways, subject combinations and schools. School capacity is also taken into account.
Placement into senior school combines three results. The KJSEA national assessment contributes 60%. School-based assessments from Grades 7 and 8 and Grade 6 KPSEA results add 20% each. The change follows the abolition of KCPE, whose final exam was held in 2023.