The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has reminded candidates sitting the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations that wearing wristwatches of any kind inside examination rooms is prohibited.
In fresh instructions issued on Sunday, November 1, KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere directed examination centre managers to ensure that candidates do not enter examination rooms with wristwatches, including ordinary analogue watches and smartwatches.
The council also instructed centre managers to provide wall clocks in every examination room to enable candidates to monitor time during their papers.
“No wristwatches of any kind for candidates in the examination room. Centre managers to provide wall clocks in every room,” the directive stated.
The restriction means candidates will have to rely on the clocks provided at their examination centres rather than personal timepieces as they sit their examinations.
The reminder comes as the 2026 KCSE examinations enter their third week, with candidates beginning their main written papers on Monday, November 2.
KNEC has also maintained strict restrictions on electronic devices, directing that all mobile phones within examination centres be switched off and kept in lockable storage outside examination rooms during examination sessions.
Other prohibited items include tablets, laptops, Bluetooth earphones, recording devices and programmable calculators, unless specifically authorised by the council.
Njengere further directed examination centre managers to ensure that examination containers are opened at exactly 7am and maintain approved weekly lists of authorised personnel.
All officials listed to oversee the examinations must carry their original national identity cards for identification.
This year’s KCSE examinations have attracted 1,048,355 candidates across the country, the highest candidature recorded since the national examination was introduced.
The examinations began on October 19 with oral and practical papers before the commencement of the main theory papers on November 2.
The government has maintained tight security measures to protect examination materials and prevent malpractice during the exercise.
