KNEC Has Introduced New Changes On Registration Of KPSEA, KCSE

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has officially launched the registration exercise for the 2026 national assessments, marking the beginning of a critical process for millions of learners across the country.

The exercise covers candidates preparing for the Grade 6 Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), the Grade 9 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and the Form 4 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.

This year’s registration process comes with significant reforms aimed at strengthening data security, enhancing accountability, and aligning examination procedures with the provisions of the Data Protection Act.

The Council says the new measures are designed to safeguard learners’ personal information, particularly that of minors, while ensuring transparency and integrity in the management of national examinations.

One of the most notable changes introduced by KNEC is the restriction of access to its registration portals. Only Heads of Institutions, or officially authorized representatives, will now be permitted to log into the system, including the KNEC Computer-Based Assessment (CBA) portal.

Before accessing the portal, school heads must acknowledge a mandatory declaration confirming their authority to register candidates on behalf of their institutions. The declaration emphasizes compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2019, and underscores that learners’ personal data will be collected and processed strictly for examination administration purposes.

“I confirm that I am the Head of Institution or an authorised representative and that I am permitted to register candidates on behalf of the school. I acknowledge that the personal data of learners, including minors, will be collected and processed solely for the administration of assessments in accordance with the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019, and will be kept private, confidential, and secure.”

In addition, Heads of Institutions must complete a personal profile verification process secured by a One Time Pin (OTP) before they can proceed with candidate registration. This extra authentication layer is part of KNEC’s efforts to curb unauthorized access and prevent manipulation of candidate data.

Registration Timelines for 2026 Candidates

KNEC has also announced specific timelines for the various national assessments:

1. KPSEA (Grade 6): Registration runs from 16^th February to 16^th March 2026.
2. KJSEA (Grade 9): Registration will take place from 2^nd March to 31^st March 2026.
3. KCSE (Form 4): Registration began on 16^th February and will close on 31^st March 2026.

The registration exercise was formally launched on Friday by KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere. He was accompanied by senior education officials, including Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.

Speaking during the launch, Njengere noted that the Council has already begun putting in place key logistical arrangements to facilitate the smooth administration of the 2026 assessments and examinations.

These preparations include upgrading the online registration portals, drafting examination timetables, preparing official registration circulars, conducting needs assessments, identifying areas that require improvement, and developing the platform for registration of Grade 10 learners under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).

Njengere highlighted that 2025 was a particularly unique year for the Council, as it administered the KJSEA examination for the first time. An estimated 1,130,587 candidates sat the inaugural Grade 9 assessment.

Looking ahead to 2026, KNEC anticipates registering approximately 3.7 million candidates across all assessment levels. The projected increase is attributed to growing enrolment numbers and the transition trends under the CBC system.

Under the current structure:

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 4 students will sit for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

Although learners were initially issued with assessment numbers in Grade 3, KNEC has announced that fresh registration will be conducted for Grade 6 learners. The Council says this step is necessary to ensure the accuracy of candidates’ biodata.

Before completing KPSEA registration, learners must first be captured in the Grade 6 portal to obtain or confirm their assessment numbers. The assessment number serves as a unique identifier and is required to finalize registration.

Heads of institutions are required to carefully verify and, where necessary, correct the following details during the registration process: Gender, Year of Birth and Citizenship

KNEC has emphasized that accuracy at this stage is critical, as errors in candidate data can cause complications during assessment administration and certification.

Warning Against Ghost Candidates

The Council has once again issued a stern warning against the registration of ineligible or “ghost” candidates. In previous circulars addressed to head teachers, CEO David Njengere cautioned that presenting fictitious or non-existent learners for national assessments constitutes examination malpractice.

“Candidates presented for the assessment must be eligible learners in the respective institutions presenting them. Registration of ghost candidates constitutes an assessment malpractice which attracts sanctions, including deregistration of the school as a KNEC assessment centre,” Njengere warned.

Such sanctions could have serious consequences for institutions, including loss of their status as accredited examination centres.

While the registration process is now underway, KNEC is yet to release a detailed circular outlining comprehensive guidelines and requirements for the 2026 national assessments. The circular is expected to provide further clarity on documentation, payment procedures where applicable, special needs accommodations, and compliance expectations.

As the registration window progresses, school heads have been urged to adhere strictly to the guidelines, ensure data accuracy, and uphold the integrity of the examination process. With millions of learners expected to sit national assessments in 2026, the strengthened registration framework signals KNEC’s commitment to secure, transparent, and accountable examination management in Kenya.

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