Candidates in hospital wards, in correctional facilities and in mourning are sitting the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) under special arrangements. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the national measures on 2 November, and county education officers in Nakuru and Kirinyaga have since described cases in their areas.
A total of 1,048,355 candidates are sitting the examination at 10,693 centres. The compulsory, large-entry papers began on 2 November, after two weeks of elective subjects. The examination runs until 20 November 2026.
What the Ministry arranged
In his 2 November statement, Ogamba said the Ministry made the following arrangements:
- Examination papers are delivered and administered to seven hospitalised candidates.
- Five candidates in correctional facilities are facilitated to sit their papers.
- Two examination centres in Moyale Sub-County, Marsabit County, have been relocated because of insecurity from clan clashes along the Kenya–Ethiopia border.
The Ministry said it remains ready to address emerging challenges throughout the examination period.
Nakuru: five candidates sat papers after giving birth
Nakuru County Director of Education Victoria Mulili said five candidates who gave birth in hospitals across the county have successfully sat their papers. She said they will continue with the remaining ones. Education officials and the multi-agency examination team made this possible.
Mulili asked parents to protect schoolgirls so that their education is not interrupted, and to guide both boys and girls to focus on their studies. She urged girls to guard against sexual exploitation, early pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. She warned that men who sexually exploit schoolgirls risk arrest and prosecution.
Kirinyaga: one candidate in hospital, one in custody
Kirinyaga County has 14,399 KCSE candidates. County Director of Education Joshua Mwangi said two cases need special arrangements: a candidate who recently gave birth is sitting her papers in hospital, and another is sitting hers while in custody. Both arrangements are in place so that they can complete their papers.
Mwangi said the exercise had gone smoothly, with no major incidents and no weather-related interruptions despite the rainy season. The first group of candidates in the county is due to finish on Friday 13 November, and Physics candidates sit their final paper on 20 November.
County Commissioner Shufaa Mwijuma directed that examination containers be guarded by two armed officers day and night. She told officials that container keys must stay with designated officers and that unauthorised people must not enter school compounds. She said the county has recorded no malpractice.
Kisii: an examination on the day of a funeral
In Kisii County, a candidate sat her KCSE paper on the day her mother was to be buried. She viewed her mother’s coffin early that morning, sat the paper, and then returned home to join relatives for the burial.