The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has stepped up preparations for the 2026 national examinations by seeking new secure containers for storing examination papers.
The council has invited eligible contractors to supply and deliver examination storage containers and undertake related repair services as it prepares for this year's examination cycle.
The procurement is part of wider preparations to ensure examination materials are securely stored and handled ahead of the KCSE and Kenya Junior Secondary Education Assessment (KJSEA).
KNEC Seeks New Examination Storage Containers
In a tender notice issued on Tuesday, August 11, KNEC invited eligible bidders to submit sealed offers for the supply and delivery of examination storage containers.
The tender also covers related repair services for examination storage facilities.
The move signals another stage in KNEC's preparations for the administration and secure handling of national examination materials.
Secure Storage Critical to Examination Process
Examination storage containers play an important role in protecting examination materials before they are distributed to examination centres.
KNEC's latest procurement comes as the council prepares for the 2026 national examination cycle, with examination personnel and other logistical arrangements already being put in place.
The council has also been preparing a pool of trained examiners who will participate in marking the examinations.
KNEC Trains KCSE and KJSEA Examiners
The latest procurement follows KNEC's recent recruitment of teachers and tutors seeking training to become examiners for KCSE and KJSEA.
The examiner training programme was scheduled to run between July and August, beginning with online learning before shortlisted applicants proceed for residential sessions.
KJSEA Examiner Training
For KJSEA, KNEC targeted teachers and tutors for several subjects.
These included English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Agriculture, Social Studies, Christian Religious Education, Creative Arts and Sports, Pre-Technical Studies and Special Needs Education.
KCSE Examiner Training
The KCSE examiner training targeted subjects including Kiswahili, Biology Practical, Islamic Religious Education, Computer Studies, French, German and Arabic.
The programme also included several Special Needs Education papers.
Successful trainees are expected to join the pool of personnel that KNEC will engage to mark the examinations starting in October 2026.
2026 Exams Face Payment Dispute
KNEC's preparations are taking place amid concerns over outstanding payments owed to teachers and other personnel who participated in the 2025 national examinations.
Teachers' unions have warned that educators could boycott the 2026 examination cycle if delayed payments remain unresolved.
The issue has added pressure on the government to settle outstanding examination-related payments before the new examination period begins.
Education Ministry Promises to Address Pending Payments
Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa recently assured teachers that the outstanding payments would be addressed.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education, Ololtuaa said the Ministry of Education had released funds to KNEC.
Payments to invigilators, supervisors and other examination personnel were scheduled to begin on August 6.
However, there has been no confirmation that all outstanding payments have been fully settled.
KNEC Intensifies 2026 Examination Preparations
With the procurement of secure storage containers, examiner training and other logistical preparations underway, KNEC is continuing to prepare for the 2026 examination cycle.
The council will need to coordinate several aspects of the process, including secure storage, transportation, administration and marking of examination papers.
The latest tender therefore forms part of the broader preparations required to ensure examination materials are handled securely throughout the examination period.
Key KNEC Examination Preparation Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination body | KNEC |
| Examination cycle | 2026 |
| Storage equipment | Examination storage containers |
| Tender issued | August 11, 2026 |
| Assessments involved | KCSE and KJSEA |
| Related services | Container repairs |
| Examiner training | July–August 2026 |
| KCSE marking | Expected from October 2026 |
| Outstanding issue | Payments to 2025 examination personnel |
KNEC's decision to procure additional storage containers comes as preparations for the 2026 examination cycle enter a critical phase.
While the council works on securing examination materials and training personnel, the unresolved payment concerns remain an issue that could affect preparations if not addressed before the examinations begin.
