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Rush against time to register 2026 KCSE candidates
An invigilator supervises KCSE English paper one examination at Nakuru High School on November 3, 2025.
What you need to know:
- School administrators said they were making final entries and verifying candidates.
- KNEC warned school heads against registering ineligible learners or “ghost candidates”, noting that such practices amount to examination malpractice and could lead to sanctions, including the deregistration of a school as an examination centre.
Schools across the country are rushing to complete the registration of candidates for the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) before the registration window closes today, March 31, 2026, at midnight.
The deadline comes amid heightened interest from repeat candidates seeking to improve their grades, as the country prepares to phase out the 8-4-4 system.
The 2027 KCSE will be the last examination under the curriculum, making the 2026 test a critical opportunity for candidates who missed previous sittings or wish to better their performance.
According to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), 2026 will see a significant increase in the number of learners registering for national assessments and examinations. Based on past candidature trends and the expected rise in students enrolling for the KCSE, KNEC projects that approximately 3.7 million candidates will be registered for various national assessments and examinations this year.
“The year 2025 was a particularly unique year for KNEC, as the council was administering the KJSEA for the first time, to an estimated 1,130,587 candidates. For 2026, based on previous candidature trends and the anticipated upsurge of candidates enrolling for the KCSE examination, KNEC anticipates registering about 3,700,000 in 2026,” said KNEC CEO David Njengere during the launch of the candidates’ registration.
Kenya National Examinations Council Chief Executive Officer, Dr David Njengere, during the release of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education results at AIC Chebisaas Boys School in Eldoret City on January 9, 2026.
The assessments under the competency-based education will be the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA).
In a circular dated February 11, 2026, KNEC said registration for the national examination began on February 16 and must be done strictly online through the council’s registration portal.
The council directed all sub-county directors of education and heads of secondary schools presenting candidates to ensure that all eligible learners are registered within the stipulated timeline.
“Registration of candidates wishing to sit for the 2026 KCSE examination is scheduled to commence on February 16, 2026, and end on March 31, 2026,” the council said in the circular.
School administrators said they were making final entries and verifying candidates. KNEC warned school heads against registering ineligible learners or “ghost candidates”, noting that such practices amount to examination malpractice and could lead to sanctions, including the deregistration of a school as an examination centre.
“All candidates presented for the examination must be eligible school-going students who have been learning in the institutions presenting them,” the council said.
According to the circular, private candidates, including repeaters and those outside regular schools, will register at sub-county education offices and sit exams at one designated public school per sub-county.
The registration fee is Sh7,200, payable at the exam center where practical exams will be taken.
“The government of Kenya, through the Ministry of Education, shall pay examination fees for all the candidates in public and private schools except candidates who are re-sitting, non-citizens and private candidates. The fees payable will be sh7200 and hall be borne by the candidates. Examination shall be paid directly to KNEC through the E-Citizen platform and it is mandatory for successful registration,” read the circular.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has urged schools to complete learner registration on time, instructing KNEC officers to ensure the process is accurate and efficient to prevent any student from being left out
“In the past, including in the just concluded examination and assessment cycle, there have been cases of learners who have suffered because their Heads of Institution uploaded erroneous data, by, for example, indicating the wrong gender. In some cases, some learners were not registered at all. These errors unduly and unfairly disenfranchise learners,” said Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba.
According to the 2024 KCSE results announced in early 2025, 48,333 candidates scored a mean Grade E, accounting for a significant portion of test-takers. This represents a continued high number of students falling into the lowest grade category, with many of these candidates encouraged to join TVET institutions.
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