The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) retake announced by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba will take place between July 1 and August 1 this year.
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has issued a circular to all county directors of education, detailing that registration for the exams will begin on Monday, January 27, and close on February 21. Registration will be conducted at county headquarters through the offices of County Directors of Education (CDEs) using the KNEC registration portal.
“Candidates wishing to register for the July series are therefore expected to present themselves at their respective county headquarters within the stipulated period to complete the registration process,” read the circular signed by KNEC CEO David Njengere.
The retake offers an opportunity for past KCSE candidates, including full repeaters taking seven or more subjects and partial repeaters registering for fewer than seven. It also extends to candidates unable to sit their exams previously due to circumstances such as illness. Adult learners who are not in regular schools but have proof of primary education qualifications are also eligible.
“All repeaters and private candidates must register for the July series and not the November KCSE examination series,” KNEC emphasized. However, first-time KCSE candidates in regular schools and those lacking the required qualifications under KNEC regulations are ineligible for this retake.
Candidates must provide both original and copies of documents during registration, including a statutory ID (national ID, birth certificate, or passport), KCPE certificate, KCSE result slip or certificate (for repeaters), and a soft copy of a passport photograph.
The exams will commence with projects in Art and Design, Agriculture, Woodwork, Metalwork, Building Construction, and Computer Studies, administered between January and July 2025. Theory and practical papers will be conducted from July 1 to August 1, 2025.
“The theory and practical papers will be administered at county headquarters, while projects will be handled at the sub-county level in institutions identified by the respective SCDEs,” Njengere stated.
KNEC will issue KCSE certificates to candidates retaking seven or more subjects, while those repeating fewer subjects will receive a result slip for the attempted subjects.
