President William Ruto has extended his best wishes to all learners sitting for the 2025 national examinations, urging them to remain confident and focused as they begin this important phase of their academic journey.
In a message shared on his official X account on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, the President, joined by First Lady Rachel Ruto, praised the hard work and dedication of candidates across the country.“Dear 2025 candidate, you’ve worked hard, prepared well, and now your moment has come. Step into it with confidence, faith, and focus. Kenya is proud of you and cheering you on every step of the way,” the message read.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) announced that the oral and practical tests for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) began on Tuesday, October 21, and will run until Monday, October 27, 2025. These include subjects that require hands-on assessments such as French, German, Music, Arabic, and Kenyan Sign Language.According to KNEC, 996,078 candidates are sitting the KCSE exams this year. Another 1,298,089 pupils are taking the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), while 1,130,669 students are sitting for the new Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA).
KNECK Chairperson Prof. Julius Nyabudi assured Kenyans that all logistical preparations have been completed, with thousands of centre managers, invigilators, supervisors, and security officers deployed across the country to ensure smooth operations even in areas affected by poor weather and road conditions.Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba also warned candidates and officials against exam malpractice, saying anyone caught breaking the rules will face strict disciplinary action.
KNEC has further encouraged all candidates to maintain honesty, discipline, and calmness throughout the examination period, reminding them that integrity remains the true measure of success.
