KNEC Announces Registration Dates For KPSEA, KJSEA And KCSE Exams

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has officially announced the commencement and timelines for the registration of candidates who will sit for national examinations and assessments in 2026.

According to KNEC, the exercise, which began yesterday, signals the start of a critical process in Kenya’s academic calendar and sets the pace for preparations ahead of next year’s national tests.

The launch was presided over by KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere, who was joined by senior education officials, including Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.

During the event, Njengere outlined the Council’s comprehensive preparations aimed at ensuring a smooth and credible administration of the 2026 assessments and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.

According to Njengere, KNEC has already begun putting in place the necessary logistical and administrative measures to facilitate the exercise. These include the preparation and testing of online registration portals, drafting of official examination timetables, and development of detailed circulars that will guide schools through the registration process.

In addition, the Council is conducting a needs analysis to identify operational gaps and areas that require improvement, based on experiences from previous examinations. Special focus is also being placed on preparing a digital platform for the registration of Grade 10 learners, in line with ongoing reforms in the education sector under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Njengere noted that 2025 marked a historic milestone for KNEC, as the Council administered the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) for the first time. The inaugural KJSEA saw an estimated 1,130,587 candidates assessed, representing a major transition in the country’s education assessment framework.

Looking ahead to 2026, KNEC anticipates a significant rise in the number of candidates registering for national examinations. Based on historical trends and the expected increase in enrollment for the KCSE examination, the Council projects that approximately 3.7 million learners will be registered across various levels.

The national assessments and examinations scheduled for 2026 will cover three key levels:

1. Grade 6 learners will sit for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).
2. Grade 9 learners will undertake the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
3. Form Four students will sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

KNEC has provided clear timelines for the registration of candidates:

1. Registration for KPSEA candidates will run from 16^th February to 16^th March 2026.
2. Registration for KJSEA candidates will take place from 2^nd March to 31^st March 2026.
3. Registration for KCSE candidates will begin on 16^th February and close on 31^st March 2026.

To guide schools and examination centres, KNEC will issue an official circular detailing the registration procedures and requirements for all three national assessments. The circular will outline eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and important compliance guidelines.

Registration Process and Requirements

For KPSEA and KJSEA, schools will be required to log into the KNEC Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal to register learners using their assessment numbers. The Council has emphasized that only eligible learners should be presented for the assessments and examinations.

Specifically, candidates registering for KJSEA must:

1. Be listed in the official Grade 9 database.
2. Possess a valid KPSEA Performance Report.
3. Have recorded School-Based Assessment (SBA) scores for Grades 7 and 8 across all learning areas.

KNEC has cautioned institutions against registering ineligible or “ghost” candidates. Such actions constitute assessment malpractice and may attract severe sanctions, including deregistration of the offending institution as an official KNEC assessment centre.

Heads of institutions have been urged to ensure that all registration data is accurate and complete. Critical details that must be verified include:

1. Correct spelling and order of learners’ names as they appear on birth certificates.
2. Gender
3. Year of birth
4. Citizenship status.

The chosen Religious Education option (Christian Religious Education, CRE, Islamic Religious Education, IRE, or Hindu Religious Education, HRE).

Additionally, any requests for transfer of Grade 6 or Grade 9 learners must be processed online within the registration window. KNEC has made it clear that transfers will not be permitted once the registration portal is closed, in order to prevent double registration and data inconsistencies.

To enhance transparency and allow parents to verify registration details, KNEC has provided an SMS confirmation service. After registration, parents and guardians can confirm whether a candidate has been successfully registered by sending an SMS to 20076.

For KCSE candidates, the message should begin with “KCSE” followed by the candidate’s index number, for example, KCSE123506013. For KPSEA and KJSEA, the SMS should start with the relevant assessment type followed by the learner’s assessment number.

A confirmation message will then be sent, indicating whether the candidate with the provided index or assessment number is duly registered for the examination or assessment.

As preparations gather momentum, KNEC has reaffirmed its commitment to delivering credible, transparent, and efficient national assessments in 2026. The Council has urged schools, parents, and candidates to adhere strictly to the registration timelines and guidelines to avoid last-minute complications.

With millions of learners expected to participate, the 2026 registration exercise marks a critical phase in safeguarding the integrity and smooth administration of Kenya’s national examinations system.

Read Also: Teachers To Earn More As KNEC Increases Invigilation Payment