KNEC Tightens KCSE Security as Phone and Watch Ban Targets Exam Cheating

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has tightened security around the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, introducing stricter controls on mobile phones, wristwatches and access to examination centres.

The measures come as more than one million candidates sit the main written papers, with officials under pressure to prevent examination questions from being accessed or shared before candidates are authorised to begin.

In fresh instructions issued on Sunday, November 1, KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere directed examination centre managers, supervisors, invigilators and security personnel to ensure mobile phones are switched off and kept in lockable lockers outside examination rooms while papers are in progress.

The restrictions apply to examination personnel and other people within the centres, not just candidates.

Candidates have also been barred from wearing wristwatches of any kind inside examination rooms. This includes ordinary watches as well as smartwatches.

Instead, centre managers must ensure every examination room has a wall clock so candidates can monitor the time available for each paper.

The restrictions are intended to close possible routes through which examination material could be accessed, recorded or transmitted during a sitting.

Why KNEC is restricting phones and watches

The phone restrictions reflect growing concern about the use of digital devices to compromise examinations.

Smartwatches and other connected gadgets can receive messages, store information and connect to other devices. Mobile phones can also be used to photograph examination material or communicate with people outside the room.

Banning these devices reduces the opportunity for such activity, although the rules still depend on examination officials enforcing them consistently.

KNEC has also reminded centre managers to maintain approved weekly lists of authorised personnel. Anyone assigned to examination duties must present an original national identity card when accessing the centre.

The latest instructions form part of wider efforts to limit access to examination materials and ensure that only authorised personnel handle them.

Examination containers must open at 7am

KNEC has directed centre managers to ensure examination containers are opened at exactly 7am.

The controlled opening process is intended to ensure that examination papers remain secure until the authorised distribution time.

Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa has warned that attempts to open the containers before the scheduled time can be detected by KNEC's monitoring system.

"There's no way you can open earlier. If you attempt, the Kenya National Examinations Council will see that you have actually tried to open before the time," Ololtuaa said.

The system adds another layer of oversight to the handling of examination materials, from storage to distribution at individual centres.

More than one million candidates sit written papers

The 2026 KCSE examinations have attracted 1,048,355 candidates, making this the largest candidature in the examination's history.

The written papers began on Monday, November 2, although the wider examination period started on October 19 with oral, practical and other papers.

On the opening day of the written examinations, candidates sat English Paper 1 in the morning and Chemistry Paper 1 in the afternoon.

On Tuesday, November 3, the timetable provides for Mathematics Paper 1 in the morning, followed by English Paper 2, covering comprehension, literary appreciation and grammar, in the afternoon.

The written examinations are scheduled to continue until November 20.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has said examination integrity remains a priority, warning that malpractice can damage the value of qualifications awarded to Kenyan candidates.

"It's not for nothing that we said we want our exams to be free of those malpractices. This is because a country whose examinations are not credible means certificates that people hold from that country are not respected," he said.

The Ministry has also identified impersonation, collusion and possession of unauthorised materials as continuing risks.

The final years of the 8-4-4 system

This year's examination is the second-last KCSE under the 8-4-4 education system.

Kenya is preparing to complete its transition to Competency-Based Education, with the final KCSE cohort expected to sit the examination in 2027.

That makes the 2026 examination an important milestone for thousands of learners, schools and families.

KNEC has provided toll-free numbers 0800-721-410 and 0800-724-900, as well as the direct line 0719-093-000, for examination-related enquiries and reports.

As the papers continue, the challenge for authorities will be to ensure that the stricter rules are applied fairly and consistently across all centres.

For candidates, the message is straightforward: follow the examination instructions, keep prohibited devices out of the examination rooms and concentrate on the papers.

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.