By Francis Orina
The Government has launched efforts to trace more than 261,000 learners who sat the 2022 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination but whose progression to the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination has not been established.
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), is seeking to establish what happened to the learners who were expected to complete secondary education and sit this year’s national examinations.
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The development has raised questions about the effectiveness of the Government’s 100 per cent transition policy, with education stakeholders seeking answers over the whereabouts and educational pathways of the missing cohort.
Speaking at the Borabu Deputy County Commissioner’s office in Nyamira County during the official opening of this year’s KCSE examination containers, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba said the Government was committed to establishing the circumstances surrounding the missing candidates.
“As a Ministry, we have records from the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics that over 200,000 students who sat for KCPE four years ago cannot be traced. We commit to giving a comprehensive report on the same and establishing whether the students might have changed their career pathways,” said Ogamba.
According to figures cited in the report, approximately 1.2 million candidates sat the 2022 KCPE examination, while 965,501 were registered for this year’s KCSE examination, leaving a significant gap between the two cohorts.
The Ministry is seeking to establish whether the affected learners dropped out of school, moved to alternative education pathways or were affected by other circumstances that prevented them from sitting the national examination.
The issue emerged as the 2026 KCSE written papers commenced on Monday, with the Government also stepping up measures to safeguard the integrity of the national examinations.
While supervising the opening of English Paper One at St Kizito Nyansiongo Boys High School in Nyamira County, Ogamba cautioned examination centre managers and officials against possessing or using mobile phones in examination centres.
He described the gadgets as a major threat to the credibility of national examinations and warned that those found violating examination regulations would face the law.
To strengthen the security of examination materials, the Cabinet Secretary said the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had introduced smart padlocks at examination container distribution depots.
He explained that the technology would enable the Council to monitor the exact time examination containers were opened and detect any attempts to access the materials before the authorised time.
“The safety measure of using smart padlocks ensures that all containers should be able to reflect at the Council the exact time they were opened. That will mean that any attempt to open the container securing the tests earlier than the prescribed time will be detected and security concerns escalated,” Ogamba said.
He assured candidates, parents and other stakeholders that the Government had put in place measures to ensure the smooth administration of the examination across the country.
Ogamba warned that anyone found engaging in examination malpractice would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
