The national examinations body has unveiled a new plan allowing Kenyans who wish to resit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) to do so before the 39-year-old system is phased out in 2027.

This comes even as it awaits a court ruling on the stalled proposal for mid-year exams that would have offered an alternative outside the regular exam cycle.

The final cohort under the system—students currently in Form Two—will sit their examinations in 2027, which would mark the end of KCSE’s journey that began in 1986. These learners were also the last to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) in 2023.

The KCSE phase-out coincides with the ongoing implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE), which is now at the Junior School level. The pioneer cohort under CBE is currently in Grade 9 and is expected to sit for their Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) in November this year to transition to Senior School in 2026.

But with two years remaining to wind up KCSE, the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) is once again targeting Kenyans, who never completed their secondary education, to register for the exam before the 8-4-4 system is completely phased out in 2027.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Nation, Knec Chief Executive Officer Dr David Njengere emphasised that 2027 is the final opportunity for any Kenyan to sit for the KCSE under the 8-4-4 system.

Dr Njengere said anyone who has unfinished business with KCSE —  whether they did the first one in 1989, dropped out in Class 8, or wants to repeat one subject — has an opportunity to do it in 2026 and the year after.

He added that the council will continue to work closely with stakeholders to ensure every eligible Kenyan gets a chance to complete their secondary education before the final KCSE exam is administered in 2027.

“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,” said Dr Njengere.

He added that, should a pending High Court case be resolved in their favour, candidates may get up to four chances: July and November of 2026 and 2027.

In January, the Ministry of Education announced the introduction of the mid-year KCSE exams scheduled annually in July for three years to offer repeaters, private candidates, and adults a second chance or an opportunity to sit exams missed due to unavoidable circumstances like illness.

However, the initiative was halted following a High Court ruling. The court acted on a petition by Dr Magare Gikenyi, who argued that the mid-year exams lacked proper public consultation and unfairly disadvantaged candidates by shortening preparation time and creating two different examination schedules.

The court ruling paused the mid-year exams, pending further review.

He urged those seeking to re-sit or complete their secondary education to take advantage of the remaining window.

“Let’s sort out these issues now. After 2027, it will be complicated, expensive, and uncertain,” he said.

Dr Malel Langat, first vice National Chairman of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut), supported the plan. 

“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,” said Dr Langat. 

National Parents Association Chairman, Mr Silas Obuhatsa, called on the Ministry of Education to actively inform and support dropouts to register.

“A KCSE certificate is a crucial document for employment and further education. No Kenyan should be left behind,” said Mr Obuhatsa.

At the same time, Dr Njengere said the council is fully prepared to administer the upcoming KCSE exams, with innovations to improve security and credibility.

The Knec boss said that previously, before 2024, examiners would see the candidate’s name.

“We are ready. Last year, we introduced personalised question papers and anonymized marking to ensure integrity,” said Dr Njengere.

Dr Njengere said the council introduced key reforms in 2024 to strengthen exam integrity. 

“Last year, we successfully rolled out personalized and perforated exam papers to improve security and anonymity during marking. We are ready for the final phase of 8-4-4,” said Dr Njengere.

One of them is anonymising scripts by removing candidate names and replacing them with numbers.

“In the past, an examiner could tell this is Atieno, Mwangi, or Kalume, and bias—intentional or unconscious—could arise. Since 2023, exam papers are anonymous. Examiners only see a number,” he said.

The council, Dr Njengere said, will also continue implementing the double collection system, where papers are picked in batches—morning and afternoon separately—to curb early exposure.

“This approach has worked very well in the last two years. It ensures no one accesses the afternoon paper prematurely,” the exams body boss noted.

Over 900,000 candidates are expected to sit for this year’s KCSE.

“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 jeopardize their future?” Dr Njengere cautioned.

Last year, Knec cancelled the results of numerous candidates involved in exam 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 warned.

The 8-4-4 system, introduced during the Moi administration, has long faced criticism over its academic pressure and inadequate emphasis on skills development. The CBE seeks to address these gaps by offering a more learner-centred and flexible curriculum.

Concerns about the effectiveness of Kenya’s 8-4-4 education system emerged as early as 1990, leading to the first formal evaluation of the system. Prof Paul Wainaina, now Vice Chancellor of Kenyatta University, conducted this initial formative evaluation, highlighting challenges within the system.

Following the evaluation, the government reduced the number of subjects in primary schools from 13 to around nine to ease the burden on learners.

By 1992, a second evaluation confirmed Prof Wainaina’s findings, and in 1995, a summative evaluation was carried out and documented in the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development’s Needs Assessment of 2016 report.

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

In 1998, then Education Minister Kalonzo Musyoka—now Wiper party leader —  pushed for change, prompting the establishment of the first Commission of Inquiry into Education, chaired by the late Prof Davy Koech.

“We have never had another commission of inquiry in the education sector since then,” Dr Njengere noted, underscoring the significance of that moment in shaping the future of education reforms in Kenya.