The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is the national body responsible for overseeing national examinations in Kenya. Its current chairman is Professor John Onsati. This council was established under the Kenya National Examinations Council Act Cap 225A of the Laws of Kenya, in 1980. In 2012 this act was repealed in 2012 and replaced with KNEC Act No.29 of 2012.
The KNEC was established to conduct school, post school and other examinations after the dissolution of East African Examinations Council and the Ministry of Education [EAEC and ME]. After the dissolution of EAEC and the ME the Kenya National Examinations Council took the roles of ensuring validity and reliability of examinations; and to ensure conformity to Kenya’s goals and changes in government policy relating to the curriculum and examinations.
The Functions of Kenya National Examinations Council
The functions of the Kenya National Examinations Council are as follows:
- set and maintain examination standards, conduct public academic, technical and other national examinations within Kenya at basic and tertiary levels;
- Award certificates or diplomas to candidates in such examinations; such certificates or diplomas shall not be withheld from the candidate by any person or institution;
- Confirm authenticity of certificates or diplomas issued by the Council upon request by the government, public institutions, learning institutions, employers and other interested parties;
- issue replacement certificates or diplomas to candidates or diplomas to candidates in such examinations upon acceptable proof of loss of the original;
- undertake research on educational assessment;
- Advise any public institution on the development and use of any system of assessment when requested to do so, and in accordance with such terms and conditions as shall be mutually agreed between the Council and the public institution;
- Promote the international recognition of qualifications conferred by the Council;
- Advise the Government on any policy decision that is relevant to, or has implications on, the functions of the Council or the administration of examinations in Kenya;
- Do anything incidental or conductive to the performance of any of the preceding functions.
KNEC Core functions
The core functions of the examination body are:
- To develop national examination tests
- To register candidates the such examination tests
- Conduct the examinations and process the results
- Award certificates to successful candidates
- Conduct examinations on behalf of foreign examination bodies upon request and agreement.
- Conduct assessment research on education
- Carry out equation of certificates and diplomas issued by other credible examination bodies
- Issue replacement certificates and diplomas upon presentation of credible evidence of loss or damage of the original.
KNEC Core Values
- Accountability – Responsible for decisions and actions, including stewardship of public resources and performance through clarity of responsibilities and roles;
- Integrity – Committed to acting in an honest, fair, accountable and transparent manner in all our operations;
- Team spirit – Embrace collaboration both within the Council and with all partners in the provision of services
- Professionalism – Committed to the highest levels of achievement obtainable through competence and critical skills;
- Inclusiveness – committed to embrace equity in relevant KNEC operations
- Quality customer service – Putting the Customer first and offering services that exceed customer expectations
- Innovativeness – Committed to creativity in delivering on the core mandate and responding to changing market demand.
Examinations
Some of the exams delivered by KNEC are:
- The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination – This is the exam which is done after one completes his primary (elementary) education. This is when one is in standard eight. After completing the exam, one can proceed to secondary school.
- The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination – This is the exam which is done after one completes four years of study in secondary (high) school. After completing the exam, one is able to go to university or college depending on the grade he/she acquired.
- Certificate and Diploma teacher training examinations
- Final exams for all national polytechnics.
External links
- Kenya National Examination Council
- Kenya National Examination Council News
- Information about Kenyan education. KCSE revision material and other related topics with video explanations
Contacts of Kenya National Examinations Council
Head Office
National Housing Corporation (NHC) House, Aga Khan Walk
+254 020 3317412 / 3317413 / 3317419 / 3317427 / 3341027 3341050 / 3341071 / 3341098 / 3341113 / 2213381
foreign Section – 0202143412 KCSE Section – 0771813972 KCPE Section – 0772069891 PTE Section – 0772069882 Technical Section – 0771813866/0771814259 Business Section – 0771814060/0771814105 Archives – 0732333566/0720741004
South C Offices
New Mitihani House
Industrial Area Offices
Ministry of Public Works, Supplies Branch,Likoni Road.
+254 -020 6650820, 0720-741003/ 0732-333530
Mitihani House
Dennis Pritt Road, Kilimani
+254 – 020-2713874 / 020-2713894 / 020-2713845 / 020-2711536
KENYA NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS COUNCIL
Chief Executive Officer – P.O. Box: 73598 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
+254 020 3317412 / 3317413 / 3317419 / 3317427 / 3341027 3341050 / 3341071 / 3341098 / 3341113 / 2213381
info@knec.ac.ke
Fax: +254-020- 2226032
0720741001/0732333860
Kenya National Examinations Council – KNEC FAQs
How can a person register for KCPE/KCSE examination as a private candidate?
During registration period, private candidates are expected to report to the Subcounty Director of Education to register for KCPE and KCSE examinations after paying the requisite fees. For Foreign Examinations, they are expected to report to KNEC premises in South C Foreign Examinations section for registration.
Can a child who is under 18 years register for KCSE examination?
KCSE registration is not linked to age provided the candidate meets registration entry requirements. Regulations are available on http://www.knec.ac.ke
How can a person with foreign qualifications register for KCSE examination?
They should apply to KNEC for equation of the foreign certificate and thereafter sit for a qualifying test one year before registration for KCSE
How can an institution be registered as an examination centre?
Submit an online application which can be accessed in the KNEC Portal www.knec.ac.ke.
For school and teacher examinations applicants, they should attach a letter from the Sub County Director of Education, a valid registration certificate from the Ministry of Education and a registration fee deposit slip;
For Business and Technical examinations, they are expected to attach a letter and a copy of registration certificate from TVETA indicating the courses they are approved to offer. Thereafter KNEC shall undertake inspection.
Can a repeater in KCSE change the subject they sat the previous year, e.g. History to Geography?
A repeating candidate shall only sit for subject (s) taken in the first attempt
Can one repeat one subject at KCSE Level?
One can repeat one subject or less than seven subjects within three years after their previous KCSE examination. However, this will not alter the mean grade awarded during the first sitting
What is the procedure for a candidate to do KNEC exams under protest?
The head of institution writes to KNEC through the Sub County Director of Education, and pays the current penalty of Kes. 3,000/- as per the KNEC regulation.
As a teacher how do I apply to be a supervisor or invigilator for KCSE/KCPE examination?
One is not supposed to apply; you can only be identified by the TSC Sub County Director and apply using this link:http://cp2.knec.ac.ke/Account/Register
Do Examiners still upload passports and ID numbers on the marking portal?
Kindly keep on checking the website http://www.knec.ac.ke for further guidance
How long does it take for Business and Technical results to be released?
The results are released after one and a half month after writing the examination
Can one register for a referral paper as a private candidate?
All post school (B&T) candidates register through institutions
Can Single and Group results slips be merged and given as one certificate
Single and Group certificates are merged per level for the three levels to give three certificates, i.e. Elementary Certificate for Level One, Intermediate for Level Two, and Advanced for Level Three.
Is a repeater allowed to repeat in a different examination centre from the centre where the candidate did the examination in the first sitting in Teacher’s Examinations?
No, because part of the scores of each subject are from the candidate’s continuous assessment, which can only be provided by the institution (examination centre) where the candidate sat.
