The mandate and core functions of Knec

The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) is charged with the responsibility of administering various Examinations in the Country. KNEC was established under KNEC Cap 225A following breakup of the East African Community. The single system of education, the 7-4-2-3 was examined.

Exams offered were East African Certificate of Primary Education (EACPE) East African Certificate of Education Examination (EACE) East African Advanced Certificate of Education (EAACE).

Examinations administered by Knec.

The Council administers a number of examinations as stated below;

S/N	Type of Exam
1	KENYA CERTIFICATE OF PRIMARY EDUCATION (KCPE)
2	KENYA CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION (KCSE)
3	KCSE QUALIFYING TEST
4	BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL EXAMINATIONS
5	FOREIGN EXAMINATIONS
6	PRIMARY TEACHER EDUCATION (PTE) EXAMINATION
7	DIPLOMA TEACHER EDUCATION (DTE) EXAMINATION
8	TEACHER CERTIFICATE FOR ADULT EDUCATION (TCAE) EDUCATION
9	SPECIAL EDUCATION (SNE) EXAMINATION
10	ECDE- Early Childhood Development Education
11	PROFICIENCY FOR CERTIFICATE IN ECDE
12	PROFICIENCY FOR DIPLOMA IN ECDE
13	CERTIFICATE IN ECDE
14	DIPLOMA IN ECDE

Develop examination policies, procedures and regulations
Develop national examinations
Register candidates for the KNEC examinations
Conduct examinations and process the results
Award certificates and diplomas to successful candidates
Conduct research on educational assessment
Carry out equation of certificates and diplomas issued by other credible examining boards
Conduct examinations on behalf of foreign examination boards
Advise the Government on matters pertaining to examinations and certification.

Set and maintain examinations standards
Conduct public academic, technical and other national examinations within Kenya at basic and tertiary levels
Award certificates or diplomas to candidates in such examinations. (Such certificates or diplomas, shall not be withheld from the candidate by any person or institution)
Confirm authenticity of certificates or diplomas issued by the Council upon request by the government, public institutions, learning institutions, employers and other interested parties Undertake research on educational assessment
Advice any public institution on the development and use of any system or assessment when requested to do so, and in accordance with such terms and conditions as shall be mutually agreed between the Council and the public institutions
Promote the international recognition of qualifications conferred by the Council
Advice the Government on any policy decision that is relevant to, or has implications on the functions of the Council or the administration of examinations in Kenya
Do anything incidental or conducive to the performance of the preceding functions.