The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has banned candidates and examination officials from carrying mobile phones and smartwatches into KCSE examination centres as part of tightened measures to curb cheating during this year’s national examinations.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere said anyone found in possession of a mobile phone during an examination session will be treated as having committed examination malpractice.
The new directive takes effect as candidates begin sitting papers with large candidature, with the council requiring everyone within examination centre compounds, including teachers, support staff and other workers, to surrender their phones once examination materials arrive.
At least two police officers will be stationed at every examination centre, while a 24-hour toll-free call centre will be established to receive reports of suspicious activities and examination-related incidents.
KNEC has also introduced colour-coded packaging to improve the identification and handling of examination papers. Morning papers will be packed in cartons bearing white labels and blue straps, while afternoon papers will have yellow labels and black straps.
Examination papers have also been personalised with candidates’ details and additional traceable security features. However, the sections bearing personal information will be detached after each examination to ensure scripts are marked anonymously.
The measures come as Kenya prepares to administer the 2026 KCSE examinations to 1,048,355 candidates, representing an increase of 52,277 from the 996,078 who registered last year.
KNEC says the strengthened security arrangements are intended to seal loopholes used to facilitate examination malpractice and protect the credibility of national examinations.
