KNEC tightens grip as KCSE enters final week with three strict rules
By Faith Lagat, November 17, 2025The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has intensified security protocols for the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) as the exam period enters its final week.
In a statement released on X on November 16, 2025, the council outlined strict rules aimed at curbing malpractice, especially amid persistent challenges posed by mobile phones during national examinations.
Strict directives for centre managers
In its notice, KNEC directed centre managers to enforce three key measures:
- All mobile phones in the centre must be kept under lock and key when the examination is on, emphasising the need to prevent unauthorised access to communication devices.
- Switch off all WiFi routers in the centre when the examination is on to eliminate potential digital communication risks.
- Instruct candidates not to enter the examination rooms with any type of wristwatch.
“All mobile phones in the Centre MUST be kept under lock and key when the examination is on. To switch off all WiFi routers in the centre when the examination is on. To instruct candidates not to enter the examination rooms with any wristwatch.”
According to KNEC, invigilators, school administrators, grounds personnel and cooks are required to surrender their mobile phones, which remain locked away until the end of each examination session.
KNEC CEO David Njengere reinforced the directive on November 3, 2025, in Thika, stating that compliance applies to “centre managers, cooks, invigilators, groundsmen, and security personnel,” and that all phones remain secured until exam materials are returned to containers.
Enhanced security measures for 2025
The directives accompany wider reforms introduced during the 2025 national examination season, including the first-ever deployment of smart digital padlocks across 250 exam containers.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the rollout on October 27, 2025, during the Kenya Junior School Education Assessments (KJSEA). The digital locks, linked to the KNEC Command Centre, allow for real-time monitoring of container access and strengthen the security of examination materials.
KNEC had earlier maintained strict dispatch routines, with KPSEA and KJSEA materials collected from centres at 6:00 a.m., while KCSE papers were picked at 7:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The council has deployed helicopters in flood-prone regions to ensure the uninterrupted delivery and retrieval of examination papers.