The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has issued several circulars with instructions that will affect the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
In three circulars that were addressed to Sub County Directors of Education, Principals of secondary schools, KCSE Supervisors and teachers preparing candidates for practicals, Knec has highlighted a number of key changes that affect this years practical examinations.
The KCSE candidates already had their rehearsals on Friday 17th October, 2025 despite the day being declared a public holiday in honor of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who passed on in India.
Below we have published the three circulars that were issued by Knec in October with instructions that will affect this years practical examinations.
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KNEC CIRCULAR ONE
KNEC/CONF/TD/SE/KCSE/PRA/AD.1NST/2025/002
DATE: 3rd October 2025
TO All
(i) Sub County Directors of Education
(ii) Principals of Secondary Schools presenting candidates for the 2025 KCSE examination
RE: OPENING OF CARTONS CONTAINING 2025 KCSE ADVANCE INSTRUCTIONS TO SCHOOLS
1.0 The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has dispatched advance instructions for the 2025 KCSE practical examinations.
2.0 Each collection point (container) has received sealed carton(s) containing the instructions packed in sealed envelopes for examination centres served by the container.
3.0 Every Centre Manager should collect the sealed envelope for their respective examination centre from the container immediately and plan for timely acquisition of the examination materials outlined in the advance instructions ahead of the actual practical examination dates.
4.0 At all times, the instructions should be handled with confidentiality; should not be photocopied, should be secured and its contents not disclosed to the candidates, or any other unauthorized persons as detailed in the KNEC Manual on the Conduct of National Examinations.
Dr. David Njengere, MBS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KNEC CIRCULAR 2
KNEC/CONF/TD/SE/KCSE/CHE/PRA/025/003
3rd October 2025
TO:
(i) Sub County Directors of Education;
(ii) Principals of Secondary Schools presenting candidates for the 2025 KCSE examination;
(iii) Teachers preparing candidates for the 2025 KCSE Chemistry (233) Examination;
(iv) Supervisors for the 2025 KCSE Examination.
RE: OPENING OF THE CARTONS AND POLYTHENE BAGS CONTAINING THE 2025 KCSE CHEMISTRY PRACTICAL (233/3) MATERIALS
1.0 The KCSE Chemistry practical examination paper will be administered on 7th November 2025. The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) shall provide some substances to be used in the 2025 KCSE Chemistry practical examination paper.
2.0 Each collection point (container) shall receive sealed carton(s) containing the substances packed in black polythene bags.
3.0 Great care should be taken when opening the cartons and the polythene bags to avoid damage or spillage of the substances.
4.0 The cartons shall be opened on the morning of Thursday, 6th November 2025 for the Sub County Directors of Education to issue the black polythene bags containing the examination materials to the Centre Managers. In addition, the date of opening the cartons containing the materials for the Chemistry subject is clearly indicated on the boxes (6th November 2025).
5.0 The Centre Manager is expected to hand over the black polythene bags containing the substances to the supervisor(s) assigned to the examination centre who will in turn issue the materials to the teacher(s) in charge of the Chemistry subject to facilitate timely and adequate preparation of the necessary reagents and substances prior to the actual examination date.
6.0 Absolute care should be taken throughout the setting up of the laboratory as well as during and after preparation of the reagents to ensure confidentiality of the entire process.
Dr. David Njengere, MBS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
KNEC CIRCULAR 3
KNEC/GEN/TVET AA/FA/ASS/03/2025/002
3rd October 2025
To All KNEC Examination Centres
RE: USAGE OF COMPACT DISKS FOR NOVEMBER 2025 BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL ICT PRACTICALS
1.0 The Kenya National Examination Council has stopped the usage Of Compact Disks in saving candidates’ files in ICT based practicals effective from the November 2025 Business and Technical Examinations.
2.0 The candidates’ files will as a result be uploaded into a KNEC portal by the ICT supervisors that are sent to the field by KNEC during the administration of examinations.
3.0 With this in mind, the examination Centres are expected to:
3.1 Ensure that there is Internet connection in the centre during the administration of examinations;
3.2 Buy a new flash disk at least 32GB per examination which the ICT supervisor(s) will use to transfer candidates’ files from one computer to another.
4.0 The Council appreciates your continued support during the administration of Business and Technical examinations.
Dr. David Njengere, MBS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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