Education stakeholders led by CS Julius Ogamba, KNEC CEO David Njegere and KNEC chairman Julius Nyabundi during the launch of the 2026 registration of candidates, February 13, 2026. /KNEC 


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The government will open registration for the 2026 national assessments and examinations on February 16, with the Kenya National Examinations Council projecting a record 3.7 million learners to sit the tests in what is projected to be the largest exam cohort in Kenya’s history.

The registration exercise will cover the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination.

Speaking during the launch of the 2026 candidates’ registration season at New Mitihani House in Nairobi on Friday, February 13, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said strict oversight measures have been put in place to ensure no learner is excluded through administrative mistakes.

“Our officers, including those from the Kenya National Examinations Council, have been instructed to ensure that the registration process is conducted efficiently and correctly, to avert the risk of any learner being left out,” Ogamba said.

In 2025, KNEC administered national assessments and examinations to a record 3,429,683 learners. For 2026, the council expects that number to rise sharply.

“For 2026, based on previous candidature trends and the anticipated upsurge of candidates enrolling for the KCSE examination, KNEC anticipates to register about 3,700,000 in 2026,” KNEC chief executive officer David Njegere said.

According to the schedule, KPSEA registration will run from February 16 to March 16.

KJSEA registration will take place from March 2 to March 31, while KCSE registration will run from February 16 to March 31.

Schools are required to upload candidate data and complete the process within the stipulated timelines.

Ogamba said past cycles had exposed learners to hardship due to inaccurate submissions by schools.

He noted that in the just concluded cycle, some heads of institutions uploaded erroneous data, including indicating the wrong gender, while others failed to register learners altogether.

“These errors unduly and unfairly disenfranchise learners, and also expose the government to serious legal risks. We have to avert them at all costs,” he said.

“In fact, for the 2026 cycle, we will identify heads of institutions that will have registration-related errors for appropriate disciplinary action by the Teachers Service Commission.”

Njegere said inaccurate data could have lasting consequences for learners’ placement.

“Registration errors have far-reaching implications on the young learners. For instance, when a school indicates the wrong gender for a learner and the error goes uncorrected from Grade 3, through KPSEA, to KJSEA, such a learner will be placed in a school of the opposite gender,” he said.

Njegere said KNEC will open the portal for registration of Grade 10 learners for School-Based Assessments once the 2026 assessment cycle registration is complete.

Ogamba said the introduction of Senior school would reshape assessment systems, requiring the sector to reposition in readiness for the changes.

Njegere said the council has already begun logistical preparations, including setting up online registration portals, drafting timetables, issuing circulars, conducting needs analyses and preparing the Grade 10 registration platform.

“We are hereby calling upon the associations to support the process by ensuring that all heads of institutions and parents/guardians presenting candidates for KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE examination are sensitised on the need to ensure accurate and timely registration of all their candidates,” he said.

KNEC chairman Julius Nyabundi called for stakeholder support to ensure accuracy and timeliness in the registration of the candidates.

"We therefore will be engaging with you more throughout the administration cycle. We wish to assure you all that we will put in place all the possible measures to deliver the 2026 assessments and examinations successfully," Nyabundi said.

Meanwhile, Ogamba said that tthe ransition to Grade 10 is nearing 99 per cent, boosted by the presidential directive that no learner should be denied admission on account of uniform or school fees, with multi-agency efforts continuing to ensure no eligible learner is left behind.