Before you start (for parents)
- This is a free set of KJSEA 2026 Kiswahili sample questions with answers for Grade 9. The questions and answers are in Kiswahili, as in the real papers; the notes for parents are in English.
- Sehemu A is in the style of 902/1 Kiswahili Lugha: 15 multiple-choice questions, 15 marks, 30 minutes.
- Sehemu B is in the style of 902/2 Kiswahili (Insha na Utangulizi wa Fasihi): an insha, a poem and an oral narrative, 30 marks, 60 minutes.
- Both papers are on Tuesday 27 October 2026: 902/1 at 8.30 a.m. and 902/2 at 11.10 a.m. The answers, a marking guide (mwongozo wa kusahihisha) and an answer table follow the questions.
Many parents feel they cannot help with Kiswahili revision because they are not confident in the grammar themselves. This page is built so that you do not need to be. Your child sits the questions in Kiswahili; you mark them with the answer table; and every answer comes with a short explanation, in Kiswahili for your child and summarised in English for you, so you can see which part of the language needs work.
These are original practice questions written by CBC Edu Kenya, not a KNEC paper and not a leaked paper. The comprehension passage, the poem and the narrative were written for this page.
How this set compares with the real papers
| Paper | Real KJSEA paper (KNEC 2025 sample format) | This practice set |
|---|---|---|
| 902/1 Kiswahili Lugha | 50 multiple-choice items, 50 marks, 1 h 40 min | Sehemu A: ufahamu (5) and sarufi (10), 15 marks, 30 min |
| 902/2 Insha na Utangulizi wa Fasihi | Insha 15, fasihi simulizi 10, ushairi 5, prose extract 10, tamthilia 10: 50 marks, 1 h 45 min | Sehemu B: insha 15, ushairi 5, fasihi simulizi 10: 30 marks, 60 min |
KJSEA 2026 Kiswahili: maswali ya mfano
CBC EDU KENYA: KJSEA 2026 KISWAHILI, MASWALI YA MFANO
Gredi ya 9 · SEHEMU A: Muda dakika 30 · Alama 15 · Jibu maswali YOTE. Chagua jibu sahihi, A, B, C au D.
Soma kifungu kifuatacho kisha ujibu maswali 1 hadi 5.
Kijiji cha Mwingi kilikuwa kimekumbwa na ukame kwa miaka mitatu mfululizo. Mito ilikauka, na wanawake walilazimika kutembea kilomita kumi kila siku kutafuta maji. Bi. Zawadi Mutua, mwalimu mstaafu, aliamua kwamba hali hiyo haingeendelea. Aliwaita wanawake wa kijiji kwenye mkutano chini ya mwembe mkubwa sokoni.
"Tukisubiri serikali peke yake, tutasubiri milele," aliwaambia. "Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa. Tushirikiane."
Wanawake hao walianzisha kikundi walichokiita Tumaini. Kila mwanachama alichanga shilingi mia moja kila wiki. Baada ya mwaka mmoja, walikuwa wamekusanya pesa za kutosha kujenga bwawa dogo la kuvuna maji ya mvua. Vijana wa kijiji walijitolea kuchimba bwawa hilo bila malipo.
Leo hii, bwawa hilo hutoa maji kwa familia zaidi ya mia mbili. Wanawake wanapata muda wa kufanya biashara ndogondogo, na wasichana hawakosi masomo tena kwa sababu ya kutafuta maji. Bi. Zawadi husema kwamba mafanikio hayo hayakuletwa na pesa nyingi, bali na umoja.
1. Tatizo kuu lililokikumba kijiji cha Mwingi lilikuwa lipi?
A. Mafuriko ya mara kwa mara B. Ukosefu wa shule
C. Ukame na ukosefu wa maji D. Magonjwa ya mifugo
2. Methali "Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa" imetumiwa kusisitiza umuhimu wa
A. ushirikiano B. usafi C. bidii ya mtu binafsi D. subira
3. Kwa mujibu wa kifungu, wasichana wa kijiji wamenufaika vipi?
A. Wamepata kazi katika kikundi B. Wamejenga bwawa lao wenyewe
C. Wamekuwa walimu D. Hawakosi masomo tena kwa sababu ya kutafuta maji
4. Neno "walijitolea" kama lilivyotumika katika kifungu lina maana gani?
A. Walilazimishwa B. Walifanya kazi kwa hiari bila kulipwa
C. Walilipwa mshahara D. Walikataa kufanya kazi
5. Kichwa kipi kinafaa zaidi kifungu hiki?
A. Ukame wa Mwingi B. Serikali na Maji C. Umoja ni Nguvu D. Vijana wa Kijiji
Maswali 6 hadi 15: Sarufi na matumizi ya lugha.
6. Nomino "ukuta" iko katika ngeli gani?
A. U-I B. KI-VI C. U-ZI D. LI-YA
7. Chagua wingi sahihi wa sentensi: Kiti changu kimevunjika.
A. Viti vyangu vimevunjika. B. Viti changu vimevunjika.
C. Kiti vyangu vimevunjika. D. Viti zangu zimevunjika.
8. Chagua kitenzi kilicho katika kauli ya kutendwa: Chakula ________ na mama jana.
A. kilipikia B. kilipikwa C. kilipikiwa D. kilipikisha
9. Chagua ukanushi sahihi wa: Mwanafunzi amefika shuleni.
A. Mwanafunzi hakufika shuleni. B. Mwanafunzi hafiki shuleni.
C. Mwanafunzi hajafika shuleni. D. Mwanafunzi hatafika shuleni.
10. Juma alisema, "Nitasafiri kesho." Sentensi hii katika usemi wa taarifa ni:
A. Juma alisema kwamba atasafiri kesho.
B. Juma alisema kwamba angesafiri siku iliyofuata.
C. Juma alisema kwamba nitasafiri kesho.
D. Juma alisema kwamba alisafiri jana.
11. Ukubwa wa nomino "mtoto" ni:
A. jitoto B. kitoto C. mitoto D. kijitoto
12. Kamilisha methali: Haba na haba ________.
A. hujaza kibaba B. haziwezi kitu C. huleta njaa D. hujenga nyumba
13. Nahau "kufa moyo" ina maana ya:
A. kufariki dunia B. kuogopa sana C. kupenda sana D. kukata tamaa
14. Kiambishi "ki" katika sentensi Akienda sokoni atanunua ndizi kimetumika kuonyesha:
A. udogo B. masharti C. mfanano D. ngeli ya KI-VI
15. Jaza pengo kwa kiunganishi kifaacho: Alichelewa kufika shuleni ________ alikuwa ameondoka nyumbani mapema.
A. kwa sababu B. ili C. ingawa D. kwa hivyo
SEHEMU B: Muda dakika 60 · Alama 30 · Jibu maswali YOTE.
16. Insha (alama 15). Andika insha itakayomalizikia kwa maneno yafuatayo:
"...Hapo ndipo nilipotambua ukweli wa methali, kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa."
17. Ushairi (alama 5). Soma shairi lifuatalo kisha ujibu maswali.
Soma Mwana
Jua linapochomoza juu ya milima ya Taita,
mwana wa mkulima hubeba kitabu mkononi,
kitabu ni jembe lake, darasa ni shamba lake;
soma kwa bidii mwana, ndipo utafanikiwa.
Usiku wa manane, taa ya chemli yawaka,
maswali yanajibiwa moja baada ya jingine,
uchovu unabisha mlango, lakini haufunguliwi;
soma kwa bidii mwana, ndipo utafanikiwa.
Oktoba itafika kama mgeni asiyepiga hodi,
siku hiyo hakuna atakayekusomea,
utavuna ulichopanda kwa jasho lako;
soma kwa bidii mwana, ndipo utafanikiwa.
(a) Kwa kuzingatia arudhi, hili ni shairi la aina gani? Toa sababu moja. (alama 2)
(b) Taja kibwagizo cha shairi hili. (alama 1)
(c) Taja tamathali moja ya usemi iliyotumika katika shairi na utoe mfano wake. (alama 1)
(d) Eleza ujumbe mkuu wa shairi hili. (alama 1)
18. Fasihi simulizi (alama 10). Soma hadithi ifuatayo kisha ujibu maswali.
Paukwa! (Pakawa!) Hapo zamani za kale, palikuwa na Fisi na Sungura walioishi katika msitu mmoja. Mwaka mmoja kulikuwa na njaa kali. Fisi, aliyekuwa mlafi, alimwendea Sungura na kusema, "Rafiki yangu, tulime shamba pamoja, tugawane mavuno." Sungura alikubali.
Wakati wa kulima, Fisi alijifanya mgonjwa kila asubuhi. Sungura alilima peke yake huku akiimba:
Jembe langu, jembe langu,
lima leo, kesho tule,
mvivu hana chake!
Mahindi yalipokomaa, Fisi alifika shambani mapema akiwa na gunia kubwa. "Nimepona sasa," alisema. "Nimekuja kuchukua sehemu yangu." Sungura alitabasamu, akamwambia, "Chukua sehemu ya chini, nami nitachukua ya juu." Fisi, kwa ulafi wake, aliyachimbua mashina na mizizi, akidhani ndiko kwenye chakula kingi. Sungura alivuna mahindi yote.
Fisi alibaki na mizizi isiyoliwa, akaondoka kwa aibu na njaa. Hadithi yangu imeishia hapo.
(a) Hadithi hii ni ya kipera gani? Toa sababu. (alama 2)
(b) Taja sifa mbili za hadithi simulizi zinazojitokeza katika hadithi hii. (alama 2)
(c) Eleza sifa mbili za Fisi, ukitoa ushahidi kutoka hadithini. (alama 2)
(d) Taja mafunzo mawili yanayopatikana katika hadithi hii. (alama 2)
(e) Eleza umuhimu wa wimbo katika hadithi hii. (alama 2)
Maswali haya yametayarishwa na CBC Edu Kenya kwa mazoezi. Si karatasi rasmi ya KNEC na si karatasi iliyovuja. cbcedukenya.com
Simama hapa hadi muda uishe. Majibu yanaanza hapa chini. (Stop here until the time is up. The answers start below.)
Majibu ya Sehemu A (answers with explanations)
Kila swali lina alama 1, kwa herufi sahihi pekee. For parents: each question carries 1 mark for the correct letter. The English line after each answer tells you what skill it tests.
1. C. Kifungu kinaanza kwa kusema kijiji "kilikuwa kimekumbwa na ukame kwa miaka mitatu mfululizo" na mito ilikauka. (Literal comprehension: the answer is stated in the passage.)
2. A, ushirikiano. Bi. Zawadi anaifuata methali mara moja kwa kusema "Tushirikiane." Mtu mmoja hawezi kufaulu peke yake. (Understanding a proverb in context.)
3. D. Aya ya mwisho inasema wasichana "hawakosi masomo tena kwa sababu ya kutafuta maji." (Literal comprehension.)
4. B. Maneno "bila malipo" yanayofuata yanaonyesha kwamba vijana walifanya kazi kwa hiari yao wenyewe. (Vocabulary in context.)
5. C, Umoja ni Nguvu. Wazo kuu ni kwamba umoja wa wanawake ndio ulioleta mafanikio; Bi. Zawadi mwenyewe anasema hivyo mwishoni. A na D ni sehemu ndogo tu za kifungu. (Main idea and title.)
6. C, U-ZI. Ukuta, kuta: "ukuta umeanguka, kuta zimeanguka." Nomino kama ubao, mbao na ufunguo, funguo pia ziko katika ngeli hii. (Noun classes: ngeli.)
7. A. Katika ngeli ya KI-VI, wingi wa "kiti" ni "viti", na viambishi vyote vinapatana: vy-angu, vi-mevunjika. B na C havina upatanisho kamili; D inatumia viambishi vya ngeli ya I-ZI. (Plural and grammatical agreement.)
8. B, kilipikwa. Kauli ya kutendwa huonyesha kwamba kiima (chakula) ndicho kilichopokea kitendo, na mtenda hutajwa baada ya "na": kilipikwa na mama. "Kilipikiwa" ni kauli ya kutendewa, na "kilipikisha" ni kauli ya kutendesha. (Verb extensions: passive voice.)
9. C, hajafika. Wakati uliopita hali timilifu (-me-) hukanushwa kwa -ja-: amefika, hajafika. "Hakufika" ni ukanushi wa -li-, na "hatafika" ni ukanushi wa -ta-. (Negation of tense.)
10. B. Katika usemi wa taarifa, "ni-" (nafsi ya kwanza) hubadilika kuwa nafsi ya tatu, "-ta-" huwa "-nge-", na "kesho" huwa "siku iliyofuata". (Direct and reported speech.)
11. A, jitoto. Ukubwa wa "mtoto" ni "jitoto" (wingi: majitoto). "Kitoto" na "kijitoto" ni udogo, na "mitoto" si neno sahihi. (Augmentative and diminutive forms.)
12. A, hujaza kibaba. Methali kamili: Haba na haba hujaza kibaba, yaani vitu vidogo vikikusanywa polepole huleta kitu kikubwa, kama michango ya shilingi mia moja ya kikundi cha Tumaini. (Proverbs.)
13. D, kukata tamaa. "Kufa moyo" ni nahau yenye maana ya kukata tamaa, si kufariki kihalisia. (Idioms.)
14. B, masharti. "Akienda" maana yake ni "kama akienda": kununua ndizi kunategemea kwenda sokoni. (Uses of "ki": the conditional.)
15. C, ingawa. Sehemu mbili za sentensi zinapingana (aliondoka mapema lakini akachelewa), kwa hivyo kiunganishi cha kinyume, "ingawa", ndicho kinafaa. (Conjunctions: contrast.)
Mwongozo wa kusahihisha Sehemu B (marking guide)
Huu ni mwongozo wetu wa mazoezi ya nyumbani, unaofuata utaratibu wa kawaida wa kutoa alama kwa kila hoja sahihi. Si mwongozo rasmi wa KNEC. For parents: this is our home-practice guide, not a KNEC marking scheme. Give a mark for each correct, clearly written point.
Swali la 16: Insha (alama 15)
| Kipengele | Alama | Kinachotuzwa (what earns the marks) |
|---|---|---|
| Utangulizi | 2 | Unavutia na kumtambulisha msomaji mahali, wakati na wahusika. (A clear, interesting opening.) |
| Maudhui | 6 | Masimulizi yanaonyesha tatizo lililoshindikana kwa mtu mmoja lakini likatatuliwa kwa ushirikiano, ili kimalizio kiwe na maana. (The story must lead naturally to the given ending.) |
| Muundo na mtiririko | 2 | Aya zinazofuatana kimantiki; kimalizio kimeandikwa neno kwa neno. (Paragraphs in order; the ending copied exactly.) |
| Lugha | 5 | Sarufi sahihi (upatanisho wa ngeli, nyakati), msamiati mwafaka, methali au nahau zilizotumiwa ipasavyo, tahajia na uakifishaji. (Grammar, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation.) |
| Jumla | 15 | Katika mwongozo huu, insha isiyomalizikia kwa maneno uliyopewa haipati zaidi ya alama 7. (In our guide, an insha that does not end with the given words is capped at 7.) |
Swali la 17: Ushairi (alama 5)
(a) Ni shairi huru (1). Sababu: mishororo haina idadi sawa ya mizani, na halifuati vina maalum vya kati na vya mwisho (1). (It is free verse: the lines have different syllable counts and no fixed rhyme.)
(b) "Soma kwa bidii mwana, ndipo utafanikiwa." Ni mshororo unaorudiwa mwishoni mwa kila ubeti. (1) (The refrain.)
(c) Moja kati ya hizi (1): sitiari, "kitabu ni jembe lake, darasa ni shamba lake"; tashihisi, "uchovu unabisha mlango"; tashbihi, "Oktoba itafika kama mgeni asiyepiga hodi". (Metaphor, personification or simile, with the example.)
(d) Mwanafunzi ajitahidi kusoma sasa, kwa sababu siku ya mtihani itafika na juhudi zake ndizo zitakazoamua matokeo yake. (1) (Work hard now; on exam day you reap what you sowed.)
Swali la 18: Fasihi simulizi (alama 10)
(a) Ni hurafa (1) kwa sababu wahusika wake ni wanyama (Fisi na Sungura) waliopewa sifa za binadamu: wanazungumza, wanalima na kugawana mavuno (1). Kubali pia hekaya, ikiwa sababu ni kwamba Sungura anatumia ujanja kumshinda Fisi. (An animal tale; accept a trickster tale if the reason is Hare's cleverness.)
(b) Zozote mbili, alama 1 kila moja: fomyula ya kuanzia, "Paukwa! Pakawa!"; fomyula ya kumalizia, "Hadithi yangu imeishia hapo"; matumizi ya wimbo; wahusika wanyama; majibizano kati ya wahusika; funzo linalojitokeza wazi. (Opening and closing formulae, a song, animal characters, dialogue.)
(c) Zozote mbili, sifa pamoja na ushahidi, alama 1 kila moja: mlafi, alifika na gunia kubwa na kuchimbua mizizi akitafuta chakula kingi; mvivu, alijifanya mgonjwa ili asilime; mdanganyifu, alidai "Nimepona sasa" wakati wa mavuno tu. (Greedy, lazy, deceitful, each with evidence.)
(d) Yoyote mawili, alama 1 kila moja: uvivu haulipi, kama wimbo unavyosema "mvivu hana chake"; ulafi huleta hasara na aibu; mtu anapaswa kufanya kazi ili apate riziki; ujanja na akili humsaidia mtu kujilinda dhidi ya wadanganyifu. (Laziness does not pay; greed brings shame; work for what you eat.)
(e) Hoja zozote mbili, alama 1 kila moja: wimbo unasisitiza funzo kuu, "mvivu hana chake"; unaonyesha bidii ya Sungura akilima peke yake; unaishirikisha hadhira, ambayo huimba pamoja na msimulizi; unaburudisha na kuondoa uchovu. (The song stresses the lesson, shows Hare's hard work and involves the audience.)
Answer table (jedwali la majibu)
| Swali | Jibu | Skill tested (for parents) | Alama |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | 1 C, 2 A, 3 D, 4 B, 5 C | Ufahamu: reading comprehension | 5 |
| 6 to 10 | 6 C, 7 A, 8 B, 9 C, 10 B | Ngeli, agreement, verb extensions, negation, reported speech | 5 |
| 11 to 15 | 11 A, 12 A, 13 D, 14 B, 15 C | Word forms, methali, nahau, uses of "ki", conjunctions | 5 |
| 16 | Insha: utangulizi 2, maudhui 6, muundo 2, lugha 5 | Narrative writing to a given ending | 15 |
| 17 | Shairi huru; kibwagizo; tamathali; ujumbe | Poetry: form, refrain, figures of speech, message | 5 |
| 18 | Hurafa; sifa mbili; sifa za Fisi; mafunzo; umuhimu wa wimbo | Oral literature: genre, features, character, lessons | 10 |
| Jumla (total) | 45 | ||
Reading the score. If most lost marks are in questions 6 to 10, the gap is sarufi, and the ngeli table is the place to start: our ngeli and vitenzi revision guide covers it. If the insha lost marks for structure, read how the KJSEA insha is marked, and for timing in 902/1, the 902/1 Kiswahili Lugha strategy.
Want full KJSEA Kiswahili papers with answers?
The KJSEA Complete Course includes full-length predictive papers for 902/1 and 902/2 in the KNEC timings, each with a separate answer booklet (majibu na mwongozo), plus full Grade 7 to 9 Kiswahili notes (noti kamili) covering sarufi, ufahamu, insha and fasihi. It covers all 9 KJSEA learning areas.
It is KSH 400 for all nine learning areas, instant download after M-Pesa payment. Original practice material, not KNEC papers and not leaked papers, and we never promise a grade.
Get the KJSEA Complete Course: notes, predictive papers and answer booklets for all 9 learning areas, KSH 400.
Frequently asked questions
When are the KJSEA 2026 Kiswahili papers?
Both are on Tuesday 27 October 2026: 902/1 Kiswahili Lugha from 8.30 a.m. to 10.10 a.m., and 902/2 Kiswahili (Insha na Utangulizi wa Fasihi) from 11.10 a.m. to 12.55 p.m. See the KJSEA 2026 timetable, paper by paper.
I don't speak much Kiswahili. Can I still help my child?
Yes. Mark Sehemu A with the answer table, then read the English line under each answer to see which skill needs work. For the insha, check the four parts in the marking table: a clear opening, a story that leads to the given ending, paragraphs, and the ending copied exactly.
What about candidates who take Kenyan Sign Language?
Candidates who take Kenyan Sign Language sit papers 904/1 and 904/2 in the same sessions instead of Kiswahili. This set is for the Kiswahili papers.
Are these the questions that will come in KJSEA 2026?
No one can honestly promise that. These are original questions on the sub-strands the Grade 7 to 9 Kiswahili design emphasises. Use them to find gaps, not to guess the paper.
Grade 9 KJSEA Complete Revision Course
All 9 learning areas in one download: notes, worked examples, topical questions and full marking schemes. Rebuilt for the 26 to 30 October assessment.
⏳ Only 24 days to the national assessments on 26 October. Start now.
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