No holiday for KCSE candidates

KCSE candidate at St Kevin's Secondary in Lodwar, Turkana County. [Mike Ekutan, Standard]

The ongoing Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education (KCSE) examination will not be interfered with after the government declared today, November 1, 2024 a public holiday.

This means Home Science, Art and Design, Electricity, Power Mechanics, Drawing and Design, Aviation Technology, Computer Studies practical that begins at 8am will take place uninterrupted.

In a press release dated October 31, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that students sitting for their papers will go on as scheduled.

 “The Ministry of Education wishes to inform the public that the declaration of the holiday will not interrupt the ongoing KCSE Examination papers scheduled for Friday, 1t November, 2024,” said Ogamba.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who is now acting Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior and National Administration, had earlier declared Friday, November 1 a public holiday for the swearing-in of the Deputy President-designate Prof. Kithure Kindiki.

The CS directed that all officers administering the examination that began on October 22 to report to their respective stations as planned.

“Consequently, all members of the Mlti-Agency Examinations Administration Team are instructed to report to work as scheduled to ensure that all examination activities of the day are well executed in line with Ministry of Education guidelines,” he stated.

This directive shall also apply to all other basic education institutions that are in session.

This is a replica of last year when learners continued to sit for exams on Monday, November 13, 2023, despite it being declared a public holiday. The Deputy President designate Kithure Kindiki as Interior CS Gazetted the day as a public holiday and confirmed that the KCSE exams would proceed as scheduled.  

Kindiki encouraged Kenyans use the day to plant trees as part of the country's Landscape and Ecosystem Restoration Program.