The 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination starts on Monday, October 19 and ends on Friday, November 20, according to the timetable released by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC). Written papers begin on November 2, with the first session at 8 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m. As of September 29, 2026, that leaves three weeks before the first papers are sat.
By the 254.ke Newsroom.
When does KCSE 2026 start and end?
The exam runs for about five weeks. Language and creative subjects open the calendar, followed by practicals, and the main theory papers start in early November.
| Date (2026) | What is scheduled |
|---|---|
| October 19 | French, German, Sign Language and Music open the exam |
| October 21 to 26 | Practical papers reported for Home Science, Art and Design, Building Construction, Electricity and French |
| November 2 | Written papers begin, starting with English and Chemistry |
| November 5 | Kiswahili (Lugha and Insha) |
| November 9 | Mathematics Paper 2 and Kiswahili (Fasihi) |
| November 13 | Biology practical |
| November 16 to 19 | Geography, Physics, Business Studies and Agriculture papers |
| November 20 | Physics practical, the final paper |
Different outlets have reported slightly different day-by-day splits for the practical window and the mid-November papers, so candidates should confirm their own paper dates on the official timetable on the KNEC website before the exam week.
What time do KCSE papers start?
The first session begins at 8 a.m. and the second at 2 p.m. KNEC’s instructions also set a firm rule on lateness: a candidate who arrives late must give the supervisor a satisfactory reason, and only in exceptional circumstances will a paper be issued to someone more than half an hour late.
How many candidates are sitting the exam?
KNEC projected about 3.7 million candidates across its 2026 national assessments, of which KCSE is one part. Registration ran from February 16 to March 31, 2026, and was done online. The council put the registration fee at Sh7,200, covered by the government for public and private school students, with exceptions such as repeaters and private candidates. KNEC also warned schools against registering ineligible “ghost candidates,” which it treats as malpractice that can lead to deregistration.
Why is 2026 a milestone year?
This is the second-to-last KCSE under the 8-4-4 curriculum, with 2027 set to be the final year, as reported by the Nation. The exam is running alongside the newer competency-based assessments: the primary-level KPSEA is scheduled for October 26 to 28, and the junior school KJSEA main exam starts on October 26.
What should candidates and parents do now?
- Download the official timetable from KNEC and mark the practical dates for your subjects.
- Confirm the candidate’s index number and centre with the school.
- Plan transport for the 8 a.m. start, especially where roads are affected by the coming rains.
- Check that fees and loan plans are in order for the next stage. See our explainer on what happens if you missed the HELB deadline.
For context on how last year’s cohort performed, see our report on KCSE results and the straight-A scorers. Official timetables and instructions are published by KNEC.
Frequently asked questions
When does KCSE 2026 begin?
Monday, October 19, 2026, with French, German, Sign Language and Music.
When is the last KCSE 2026 paper?
The Physics practical on Friday, November 20, 2026.
When do the main written papers start?
On November 2, 2026, beginning with English and Chemistry.
Will latecomers be allowed in?
Only in exceptional circumstances if more than half an hour late, and they must give the supervisor a satisfactory reason.
When will KCSE 2026 results be released?
KNEC has not announced a release date in the sources reviewed for this article.
