Outgoing Executive Secretary of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) Michael Chilala from Examinations Council of Zambia hands over to KNEC CEO David Njengere at the New Mitihani House in Nairobi, February 9, 2026. /KNEC



Kenya has assumed leadership of Africa’s premier examinations and assessment body after the Kenya National Examinations Council took over the secretariat of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa, placing the country at the centre of the continent’s testing and examination standards.

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The handover from Zambia was formalised on Monday during a ceremony at New Mitihani House in Nairobi, marking a shift that positions Kenya as the administrative and strategic hub of the association’s operations.

Michael Chilala, outgoing Executive Secretary of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA) and Executive Director of the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ), officially handed over the reins during the event.

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The transition followed the appointment of KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere as the new Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the continental body.

The takeover designates Kenya as the host of the AEAA secretariat, which serves as the organisation’s administrative centre and coordinates programmes across member states.

“This is a proud moment for Kenya. We will use this platform to share our experience and learn from other countries, improving assessment for all our students,” Njengere said.

The association brings together national examination councils, testing agencies and education experts from across Africa to collaborate on improving the quality, credibility and fairness of assessments.

Its mandate includes coordinating training, research and the sharing of best practices among member countries.

By hosting the secretariat, Kenya assumes a more influential role in shaping education standards, policies and reforms across the continent.

“Hosting the AEAA Secretariat gives Kenya a strategic role in shaping education standards and exam policies across Africa,” Njengere said.

With the secretariat now stationed in Nairobi, the country will lead efforts to promote reliable, transparent and fair assessments, while supporting harmonisation of testing practices among African nations.

Kenya is also expected to host workshops, conferences and technical training sessions for examination officers, activities likely to boost the country’s service and hospitality sectors.

The move further positions Kenya as a reference point for other countries seeking to benchmark their examinations against recognised continental standards.

Officials say this will enhance quality assurance and help improve outcomes for learners across the region.

The development comes at a time when Kenya’s own examination system is undergoing significant reform.

The country is in the penultimate phase of transitioning from the long-running 8-4-4 system to the 2-6-3-3-3 Competency-Based Education (CBE) structure, which emphasises skills acquisition and continuous assessment over high-stakes, end-of-cycle testing.

The Kenya National Examinations Council oversees standards for primary, secondary and technical and vocational education and training, and has maintained strict measures to curb cheating and safeguard credibility.

Under the new curriculum, assessments increasingly focus on learners’ competencies rather than rote memorisation, with more evaluations conducted at school level, particularly in junior school.

In contrast, examinations under the 8-4-4 system have traditionally been summative, theory-driven and heavily reliant on national tests to determine progression.

Currently, the council is managing both systems concurrently ahead of the complete phase-out of the 8-4-4 structure, when the last cohort is expected to sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination in 2027.

Hosting the continental secretariat strengthens Kenya’s credentials as a leader in assessment reform at a pivotal moment for the sector.