Nairobi, Kenya – The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has confirmed that the 2027 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) will be the last sitting of the examination, marking the end of a 38-year tradition. KNEC CEO David Njeng’ere made the announcement on Thursday during the release of the 2024 KCSE results at Mtihani House, urging students who wish to improve their grades to take full advantage of the remaining opportunities.
The 2024 KCSE exams, held across 10,755 centres, attracted a record 965,501 candidates, up from 903,138 in 2023. The marking process concluded on December 13, 2024, involving 30,370 examiners working in 40 designated centres nationwide. Njeng’ere commended the dedication of examiners and centre managers, whose efforts ensured the timely and accurate processing of the results. He emphasized that the rigorous supervision and strict anti-cheating measures continue to uphold the credibility of Kenya’s national examinations.
First introduced in 1989 as a replacement for the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE), the KCSE has undergone various changes over the decades, including a reduction from 10 to seven subjects in 1992. Njeng’ere noted that the final 2027 exams will provide candidates with a last opportunity to sit under the KCSE system before it is fully phased out, paving the way for the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and other new assessment frameworks. He encouraged students, parents, and schools to prepare adequately to ensure a smooth transition for all candidates.