Kenya’s Ministry of Education has confirmed that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will proceed as scheduled, dismissing any possibility of a postponement linked to the anticipated October-December El Niño rains.
The clarification came from Kanyi Gioko, Director of Administration at the Ministry of Education, who spoke at the 13th National Climate Outlook Forum held in Nairobi on Wednesday, August 26, where the October-December rainfall outlook was presented.
KCSE KJSEA and KPSEA Postponed
Why KCSE cannot be postponed
Gioko explained that national examinations are structured in a way that makes rescheduling impossible, as all candidates must sit the papers simultaneously.
“The national examinations are zero-sum. They cannot be postponed and cannot be delayed. Everybody must do the paper at the same time across the country. We may be forced to close some exam centres. However, exams will go on as planned, and we already have plans to deliver papers using helicopters and drones in many places,” Gioko said.
The Ministry acknowledged that heavy rains and flooding could complicate the delivery of examination materials and the movement of candidates, particularly in low-lying and flood-prone regions. However, officials indicated that contingency plans are already in place.
How the government plans to manage disruptions
Gioko outlined a pre-emptive mapping process through which authorities identify schools at risk of becoming inaccessible during the rainy season, and determine alternative sites where examination centres can be shifted if roads are cut off.
“We map out the country in advance, and then we decide which centre should be moved to which location to mitigate against areas that we are very sure we will not be able to reach in case of any emergencies,” he said.
Beyond road-based logistics, the Ministry confirmed it will use air transport as a backup, with drones set to be deployed for the first time this year as part of the government’s updated response strategy.
“We also do airlifting. If we cannot go by road, we go by air. This year we are going to deploy drones. Those are some of the innovations we are putting in place,” Gioko added.
Three national exams fall in the same rainy window
The logistical challenge is compounded by the timing of the national examinations calendar. Term Three concludes in late October, which is when both the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) are scheduled to begin.
The KCSE follows shortly after, meaning all three national examinations will be conducted within the same heavy rainfall period this year.
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El Niño preparedness in Nairobi
We also highlighted facts about Nairobi Governor Sakaja Johnson’s proactive measures to combat potential flooding as the city braces for anticipated El Niño rains.
The county’s multi-agency programme, which allocates KSh 2 billion specifically for drainage works, aims to address long-standing vulnerabilities in flood-prone areas.
As the Kenya Meteorological Service warns of an 81% probability of strong El Niño effects extending into early 2027, the stakes have never been higher for residents to stay alert and cooperate with ongoing flood-mitigation efforts. With lives and livelihoods at risk, the urgency to act remains paramount as the multi-agency team gears up for the impending rains.
KCSE KJSEA and KPSEA Postponed
