El Niño rains: Govt puts contingency plans in place for KCSE, KJSEA candidates

The 2026 national examination period will coincide with the October-December El Niño rainy season, raising concerns about how heavy rainfall, flooding and impassable roads could affect candidates, teachers and the delivery of examination materials.

The Ministry of Education, however, says the examinations will proceed as scheduled and has outlined several measures to deal with possible disruptions.

Heavy rainfall can make roads impassable, particularly in flood-prone and remote areas. This could affect the movement of candidates and examination officials, as well as the transportation of examination papers and other materials.

The challenge is compounded by the examination calendar, with KJSEA and KPSEA scheduled to begin on October 26, followed by KCSE from November 2 to 20.

Will the examinations be postponed?

No. The Ministry of Education has ruled out postponing the national examinations.

Ministry of Education Director of Administration Kanyi Gioko said national examinations must be administered simultaneously across the country because all candidates are required to sit the same papers at the same time.

This means bad weather could lead to changes at individual examination centres, but not a nationwide change to the examination timetable.

“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,” Gioko said.

What happens if a centre is inaccessible?

The ministry plans to identify vulnerable examination centres before the rains intensify.

Authorities are mapping areas that could become inaccessible and identifying alternative centres where candidates can be moved if necessary.

Some examination centres could therefore be closed or relocated to safer and more accessible locations if flooding makes them difficult to reach.

The government plans to use alternative modes of transport where roads cannot be used.

Helicopters will be available to transport examination materials and personnel to areas cut off by floods.

The ministry also plans to deploy drones as an additional option for delivering examination materials to hard-to-reach areas.

Candidates in remote areas

Candidates whose usual examination centres become inaccessible may be required to sit their examinations at alternative centres.

The ministry is working with regional and county authorities to identify areas that could be isolated and prepare arrangements in advance.

This is particularly important in parts of northern Kenya and other areas where flooding can quickly disrupt road connections.

Schools in areas vulnerable to flooding are being encouraged to prepare early by stocking sufficient food and essential supplies.

The aim is to prevent learners and teachers from being stranded or facing shortages if roads become impassable.

In areas such as Wajir, where heavy rainfall can make roads difficult to use later in the day, schools may also consider adjusting their schedules to allow candidates to complete activities before the heaviest rains.

For candidates, the key message is that the examinations are expected to go ahead as scheduled.

The contingency plans are designed to address problems caused by the weather rather than change the national examination timetable.

Where flooding makes a centre inaccessible, authorities may relocate candidates, use alternative transport or deliver examination materials by helicopter or drone.

In short, the rains may change where some candidates sit their examinations and how examination materials are delivered, but they are not expected to change when the national examinations take place.

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