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Updated November 2026. This page gives you KCSE history paper 1 questions and answers written from scratch in the KCSE style, with the marking points a teacher looks for. KCSE History and Government Paper 1 (311/1) covers the history of Kenya and the Kenyan system of government. It is out of 100 marks and lasts 2 hours 30 minutes, and the KNEC 2026 KCSE timetable sets it for Wednesday 11 November 2026 from 2.00 to 4.30 pm.
These are original CBC Guide practice questions, not an official KNEC paper or marking scheme.
How History and Government Paper 1 Is Structured
Section A has 17 short questions worth 25 marks, and all are compulsory. Section B has four essay questions of 15 marks each, and you answer any three (45 marks). Section C has three questions of 15 marks each, and you answer any two (30 marks). Section B and C questions are normally split into a 5-mark part (a) and a 10-mark part (b). Part (a) wants five short points; part (b) wants five points, each explained in a full sentence, because each explained point earns 2 marks.
Topics That Paper 1 Draws On
- Early people, migration and settlement of Bantu, Nilotes and Cushites, and pre-colonial social, economic and political organisation.
- The coast: Indian Ocean trade, Portuguese and Oman rule, and the long-distance trade.
- The scramble and colonial rule, Kenyan responses, colonial economy and education, and the struggle for independence.
- Citizenship, national integration, human rights, and the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.
- The three arms of government, devolved government, public finance and the electoral process.
KCSE History Paper 1 Questions and Answers (Section A)
1. Give two ways a person can become a Kenyan citizen. (2 marks)
Answer: By birth; by registration (for example through marriage to a citizen for at least seven years, or lawful residence). Any two.
2. Name the community whose members were moved into the Kamelilo and Kapchepkendi reserves after resisting the British. (1 mark)
Answer: The Nandi.
3. State two functions of the Commission on Revenue Allocation. (2 marks)
Answer: Recommends the basis for sharing revenue between national and county governments; recommends the basis for sharing revenue among counties; advises on financing and financial management of county governments.
4. Identify the main economic activity of the Maasai in the pre-colonial period. (1 mark)
Answer: Pastoralism (livestock keeping).
Section B and C Practice Questions With Worked Answers
5. (a) Give five reasons why the Bantu migrated into Kenya. (5 marks)
Marking points: population pressure in the cradle land; search for fertile land for farming; drought and famine; internal conflicts and family feuds; external attacks from other communities; outbreaks of disease; the spirit of adventure. One mark each, any five.
(b) Explain five results of the Bantu migration and settlement in Kenya. (10 marks)
Marking points: (i) They intermarried with communities they met, which created new groups and strengthened relations. (ii) Trade grew between them and their neighbours, for example the Agikuyu exchanged grain for Maasai livestock. (iii) Conflicts arose over land and grazing, leading to raids and wars. (iv) Some groups displaced earlier inhabitants such as the Cushites and hunter-gatherers. (v) They spread iron working, which improved farming tools and weapons. (vi) Population increased in the areas where they settled. Two marks each for any five fully explained points.
6. (a) State five functions of the National Assembly in Kenya. (5 marks)
Marking points: makes and amends laws; approves the national budget and revenue allocation; oversees the national executive and state organs; approves declarations of war and states of emergency; vets presidential appointments; can begin removal of the President by impeachment.
(b) Explain five challenges facing devolved government in Kenya. (10 marks)
Marking points: delayed disbursement of funds from the national government slows projects; corruption and misuse of county funds; shortage of skilled staff in some counties; political wrangles between governors and county assemblies; overlapping roles with the national government; high wage bills that leave little for development. Explain each point in a full sentence to earn the second mark.
How to Write a 15-Mark History Answer
Number your points, start each one on a new line, and give a single idea per point. In part (b), add a reason or example after every point, such as “Corruption, because funds meant for roads are lost through inflated tenders.” Avoid writing paragraphs that hide several points together, because markers credit each point once. Plan 30 minutes for each essay and leave 20 minutes for Section A.
Ready for full papers? The first questions on every CBC Guide History paper are free. A Day Pass (KSh 20) or Weekly Pass unlocks complete 311/1 and 311/2 practice papers with worked answers, paid once with no auto-renewal. See all passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is KCSE History and Government Paper 1 in 2026?
The KNEC 2026 timetable sets 311/1 on Wednesday 11 November 2026 from 2.00 to 4.30 pm.
How many questions do I answer in History Paper 1?
All 17 questions in Section A, any three of the four in Section B, and any two of the three in Section C, for a total of 100 marks.
What is the difference between History Paper 1 and Paper 2?
Paper 1 (311/1) covers Kenyan history and government. Paper 2 (311/2) covers world history and government, including other countries’ systems.
Are these answers the KNEC marking scheme?
No. They are original practice questions with worked marking points by CBC Guide, matched to the KCSE format.