The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) entered their second day on Tuesday amid a stern warning from Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba against examination malpractice.
A total of 2,586,491 candidates are sitting the assessments, comprising 1,380,463 Grade 6 learners taking KPSEA and 1,206,028 Grade 9 learners taking KJSEA.
The Grade 6 candidates will conclude their assessments on Wednesday, October 28, while their Grade 9 counterparts will sit their final papers on Friday, October 30.
Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) chief executive David Njengere oversaw the distribution of assessment materials at the Thika West Deputy County Commissioner’s office.
The assessments have renewed focus on examination integrity, with Ogamba warning that anyone found engaging in malpractice would face legal or administrative action.
“The government will not tolerate any examination malpractice in any form or manner. Centre managers, supervisors, invigilators and all officials entrusted with administration of examinations and assessments must discharge their responsibilities with the highest standards of integrity and professionalism,” Ogamba said.
He spoke on Monday after overseeing the opening of the container and distribution of assessment materials at the Makindu subcounty distribution centre in Makueni County.
“Any person found engaging in examination malpractice will face appropriate legal action, whether criminal or administrative,” he said.
On Tuesday, KPSEA candidates will sit Integrated Science in the morning session, starting at 8.30am, followed by Kiswahili and Kenyan Sign Language at 12.10pm.
KJSEA candidates will sit Kiswahili Lugha and Kenyan Sign Language in the morning session, followed by Kiswahili Insha and Kenyan Sign Language 2.
Assessments across both levels will include large-print and Braille formats for learners with special needs.
Ogamba also cautioned parents against fraudsters claiming to have access to assessment papers and demanding money in exchange for early access to the test materials.
“Such claims are fraudulent and I urge anyone with information on these activities to report the matter promptly to relevant authorities,” he said.
The assessments will be followed by the written Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, which begin on Monday, November 2, and run until November 20, 2026.
The KCSE oral and practical examinations began on October 19 and will conclude on Friday, October 30. They are being administered to 1,048,355 registered candidates.
