KNEC announces 2027 as final year for KCSE under 8-4-4 system

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced that Kenyans who missed out on completing or repeating the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) have until 2027 to sit the exam before the 8-4-4 system is completely phased out.

The announcement coincides with the opening of the third term of the 2025 school calendar, which runs from August 25 to October 24.

Though only nine weeks long, the term is the most crucial as candidates across the country prepare for national examinations.

This year’s examination calendar includes the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and the Kenya Pre-vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA). Schools have been directed to follow strict timelines to ensure uniformity.

During the short term, learners will also benefit from two public holidays,  Mazingira Day on October 10 and Mashujaa Day on October 20, which will give them two extended weekends ahead of the tests.

The examination schedule begins with KPSEA from October 27 to 30, followed by KILEA from October 27 to 31. KJSEA and KPLEA will take place between October 27 and November 6, while secondary school candidates will sit KCSE from November 3 to 21.

After exams, schools will close on October 27 for the long December holiday, resuming on January 2, 2026.

To safeguard the process, the Ministry has restricted visits and banned all non-essential activities in secondary schools during the term.

KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere stressed that the 2027 window is the last chance to take KCSE under the 8-4-4 system, which was introduced in 1985 and first tested in 1989.

“This is a critical moment. If you have unfinished business with KCSE, whether you started in 1989 or dropped out recently, you have two years to re-sit. After 2027, it will be extremely difficult,” Njengere said.

He explained that those who dropped out after Class Eight, never completed secondary school, or wish to retake certain subjects can register for exams in 2026 or 2027.

He further noted that KNEC is awaiting a High Court ruling on a petition that stalled plans for mid-year KCSE sittings.

The Ministry of Education had earlier announced the option of July exams to give private candidates and repeaters more opportunities, but the initiative was challenged in court by Dr Magare Gikenyi, who argued it lacked public consultation and could disadvantage some learners.

“If the case is resolved in our favour, candidates may get up to four sittings: July and November of 2026 and 2027. Let’s sort out these issues now. After 2027, it will be complicated, expensive and uncertain,” Njengere said.

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) First Vice National Chairman Malel Langat echoed Njengere’s call, urging Kenyans who missed KCSE to take advantage of the two-year window.

“We have thousands of Kenyans who did not complete their secondary education. We are reminding them to take advantage of the two-year window to register for KCSE before the full transition to CBE,” he said.

National Parents Association Chairman Silas Obuhatsa also urged the Ministry to create awareness and assist school dropouts to register.
“A KCSE certificate is a crucial document for employment and further education. No Kenyan should be left behind,” Obuhatsa said.

On exam integrity, Njengere highlighted reforms introduced to strengthen credibility.

“Last year, we introduced personalised and perforated exam papers to improve security and anonymity during marking. Since 2023, examiners only see candidate numbers, not names, which eliminates bias,” he explained.

He confirmed the continuation of the double collection system, where morning and afternoon papers are picked separately to reduce chances of early exposure.

“This approach has worked very well in the last two years. It ensures no one accesses the afternoon paper prematurely,” he said.

Over 900,000 candidates are expected to sit KCSE this year. Njengere warned schools and learners against exam malpractice.

“Everyone will see the papers on the day they are administered. Any school caught engaging in malpractice will be swiftly apprehended and taken to court. Let the children prepare properly. Why jeopardise their future?” he said.

He further reminded candidates of the consequences of irregularities.

“Learn from those who came before you: if found guilty of cheating, your results will be cancelled. You will have to repeat the exams. These are global rules. We are members of both the African Association of Educational Assessment and the International Educational Assessments,” he added.

The end of KCSE will mark the completion of Kenya’s transition to Competency-Based Education (CBE), which has now reached Junior School. The pioneer Grade 9 learners will sit the KJSEA this November to progress to Senior School in 2026.

Reflecting on the 8-4-4 system, Njengere said concerns about its effectiveness had been raised as early as 1990.

Evaluations by education experts in the 1990s revealed serious gaps, leading to the 1998 Koech Commission led by Prof Davy Koech — the first major inquiry into Kenya’s education system.

“So, by 1995, it was clear that our education system was not heading in the right direction,” he said.

The last KCSE will be administered in 2027, closing a 39-year chapter as Kenya fully embraces the CBE model.