Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) is a body that is mandated to oversee national examination including KCPE and KCSE. KCSE Candidates can either apply through school heads or a private candidate. The later is preferred especially for candidates:
- Sitting for exam for the second time
- Who are older and may find it uncomfortable to mingle with young students
- Who are sitting for their exam while serving as inmates
- Who missed their previous exam due to unavoidable reasons
KNEC requirements for one to sit as KCSE private candidate in Kenya
- KCPE certificate in Kenya,
- Birth certificate,
- Two passport photos,
- Time elapsed should be more than three years since they sat for their KCPE in Kenya for a repeater it should be less than two years since their last KNEC sitting and a prospective candidate should produce a school leaving certificate in Kenya of the last school attended within Kenya.
- A confirmation of the candidate from the Head of the school where the KCSE candidate in Kenya will sit for the KCSE practical examination paper in Kenya should be produced by the candidate,
- sit and pass a qualifying test administered by KNEC in Kenya.
- A KCSE private candidate in Kenya would be expected to register for a minimum of 7 papers and a maximum of 9 papers in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations in Kenya. To register for KCSE privately in Kenya attract charges ranging from Ksh. 3,200 for the seven papers and Ksh 3,600 for the nine papers in KCSE exams in Kenya.
Where and how to register as a KNEC private candidate in Kenya
Once a candidate has fully satisfied all basic requirement to sit as a private candidate as provided by KNEC, what follows is registration. KCSE Private candidates are registered in the County Education Offices in Kenya by the KNEC Examination Council appointed agents in Kenya in March of every year.