KNEC TIGHTENS EXAM SECURITY

Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has introduced smart digital padlocks to provide security and transparency of 2025 national examination material.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced that for the first time, KNEC is experimenting the use of digital padlocks on 250 examination containers nationwide.

In a communiqué dispatched to newsrooms, Education ministry official Oliver Ogamba revealed that the hi-tech locks are wired to the KNEC command centre, making it possible to monitor in real time when each container is opened and closed; a measure to curb exam malpractice.
"These locks are wired to the KNEC command centre, where there is real-time monitoring of the time when each container is opened and locked," said Ogamba.

As per the enhanced security arrangements, everyone within the examination centres is required to give up their mobile phones as soon as the examination papers are handed out.

The national police service will also ensure security for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), whereas the education ministry and school principals will arrange security for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) on a school-based model, CS Ogamba said on Monday.

The CS further revealed the launch of personalized question papers, which bear each candidate's name and a randomly generated number. This is a new step towards ensuring fairness during the marking of papers.

Candidates will write down responses in the question booklets. In the last day of the test, the identification section is pulled out and packed separately to respect fairness and prevent bias," stated CS Ogamba.No smooth procession will be felt by KPSEA and KJSEA material, which will be collected once a day at 6.00 am, whereas KCSE papers will be picked twice a day; 7.00 am in the mornings and 12.00 pm afternoons.

The 2025 test is the initial national examination for Grade 9 students. Grade Six students will take the KPSEA examination, while Grade Nine students sit for the KJSEA test.

KJSEA students will be examined in twelve areas of learning within 6 days, whereas KPSEA students will spend three days tackling five subjects.

KPSEA will be conducted from October 27 to 29, and KJSEA will be conducted from October 27 to November 3, 2025.