Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has assured parents and students that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) national exams, which are due to begin in October, will not be disrupted.
This follows the planned by-elections scheduled to take place across several counties on November 27, which will include campaigns running from October 8.
Speaking to the press on Friday afternoon in Kisii County, Murkomen revealed that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had carefully scheduled the elections to take place after the exams had finished.
According to the CS, schools that also serve as polling stations would only be used on the specific election date, and no electoral activities would be permitted before or after this date.
Murkomen emphasised that the schools would remain a no-go zone during the campaign period and that security officers would be alert to ensure no intrusion into learning institutions.
"I think that the by-elections of November are very few, confined to particular areas. In fact, schools are a no-go zone in terms of campaign infrastructure," Murkomen clarified.
"But you can be able to see that IEBC has ensured that the election day is after the examinations. So the schools which are polling stations will be able to be used because by that time all the examinations will have been completed," he added.
Murkomen, however, called on the electoral body to work closely with relevant government authorities to structure the campaigns in a way that it does not happen near schools.
"What we want to protect the students from is the disruption of political activities. However, IEBC will have to help us work out the campaign schedule in such a way that it does not disrupt the examinations," the CS reiterated.
Murkomen was forced to address the matter after a section of members of the public expressed concerns over the possibility of exam disruption by the looming by-elections.
Meanwhile, KCSE is expected to commence on October 21 with oral papers followed by theory examinations, which will begin on November 3, just a day after the by-elections.
The exams are expected to take place for three weeks, with the last paper scheduled to conclude on November 21, 2025.
