The Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations kicked off in Kenya on Monday, with 1.2 million candidates set to sit the exam across the country.

The candidates in more than 10,000 centres are expected to sit KCPE from March 22-24.

Exam officials started distributing exam materials early Monday morning in a process overseen by top Education Ministry officers and other state agencies countrywide.

479 containers of exam papers were opened on Monday 6am before distribution started, with Education CS George Magoha, who was in Thika expressing confidence in the process.

“The students are very well prepared, the examination was also prepared taking that into consideration, all government agencies are here and it is all systems go,” said Magoha.

Earlier, the late arrival of some teachers resulted in confusion in the start of the process.

“There was a slight hiccup today but it does not involve the integrity of the examinations, some teachers did not arrive on time, we are going to ensure that this is solved and teachers arrive by 6am” he added.

The CS took the opportunity to warn school heads that collected cash from students but did not register them for KCPE that they will be dealt with ruthlessly by the law.

Magoha promised that the such students would be permitted to sit the exam since the government had paid national exam fees for both public and private schools across Kenya.