By the 254.ke Newsroom
Kenya’s main KCSE written papers start on Monday, November 2, 2026, and run until November 20, with 1,048,355 candidates registered, the first time the KCSE candidature has passed one million. The oral and practical tests have been under way since October 19. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is running the 2026 KCSE alongside the KPSEA and KJSEA assessments, a combined load of 3,634,846 learners.
How many candidates are sitting KCSE 2026?
KNEC’s registration figures, as reported by Capital FM, put the 2026 KCSE candidature at 1,048,355. The wider 2026 season totals 3,634,846 candidates, up 6.13 percent from 3,424,836 in 2025. The Standard describes the season as the largest candidature in the council’s history, and its page summary carries the same three-way split.
| Assessment | Registered candidates | Dates reported |
|---|---|---|
| KPSEA (Grade 6) | 1,380,463 | Oct 26 to Oct 28 |
| KJSEA (Grade 9) | 1,206,028 | Oct 26 to Oct 30 |
| KCSE (Form 4) | 1,048,355 | Orals/practicals from Oct 19; written papers Nov 2 to Nov 20 |
| Total | 3,634,846 |
An earlier Education News report in June described the KCSE figure as an approximately 1.04 million preliminary count, and cited 993,226 candidates for 2025. That report did not say whether the 2025 number was registrations or candidates who sat, so the two are not strictly comparable.
When do the KCSE written papers start and end?
Capital FM reports the main written papers running from November 2 to November 20. KNEC began the KCSE on Monday, October 19, with oral and practical tests; the Standard reported morning sessions starting at 8am and afternoon sessions at 2pm. Further practicals, covering subjects such as Art and Design, Woodwork, Metalwork, Computer Studies and Home Science clothing construction, were listed for October 26 to 30. For the paper-by-paper dates, see our KCSE 2026 timetable guide and the official timetables on the KNEC website.
What security measures are in place?
Capital FM reports that KNEC held rehearsals explaining exam rules and how to fill in answer sheets, including shading optical mark reader forms. More than 340,000 contracted personnel have been deployed, and exam materials are held in containers secured with smart padlocks. Officials have warned that malpractice can attract penalties. Our earlier report covers the smart padlocks, police presence and phone ban in detail.
Are fake KCSE papers being sold?
The Standard published a report on October 21 headlined “Revealed: Scammers demand Sh60,000 for fake KCSE papers,” tagged under exam malpractice. 254.ke could not read the full text of that report, so we cannot describe how the alleged scheme works or who was approached. The headline alone shows why parents and candidates are being warned about offers of leaked papers. KNEC has not, in the material reviewed for this report, announced a hotline or a count of cases.
What has not been announced?
- No incident, cheating case or disruption in the 2026 KCSE orals and practicals appears in the reports reviewed.
- The paper-by-paper written timetable was not available in the sources checked for this article beyond the November 2 to 20 window.
- The Education News figure of 993,226 for 2025 is described there only as candidates “who sat” the exam, so year-on-year growth for KCSE alone is not given by KNEC in these reports.
Frequently asked questions
When do KCSE 2026 written exams begin?
Monday, November 2, 2026, according to Capital FM. They are scheduled to end on November 20.
How many students are sitting KCSE in 2026?
1,048,355 candidates are registered, the first time the figure has exceeded one million.
How many candidates are in the 2026 national exams overall?
3,634,846 across KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE, up 6.13 percent on 2025.
Are KCSE papers really sold before the exam?
The Standard reported on October 21 that scammers were demanding Sh60,000 for fake papers. Candidates should treat any such offer as fraud and report it to school authorities or police.
Updated October 30, 2026.
