Registration for 2026 KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE kicks off February 16 amid tough warning to schools over costly errors
Kenya is staring at its biggest examination cohort in history after the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) announced it is targeting a staggering 3.7 million learners for registration in 2026.
The mass registration for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) begins February 16, setting the stage for what could be a record-breaking academic year.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, speaking during the launch at New Mitihani House in Nairobi, said the government has put in place strict oversight mechanisms to ensure no learner is locked out due to clerical errors.
“Our officers 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 exams to a then-record 3,429,683 learners. But 2026 is projected to shatter that figure.
KNEC CEO David Njegere said the council expects a sharp rise in candidature, particularly for KCSE.
“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 learners,” Njegere revealed.
If achieved, the figure will mark the largest exam cohort ever recorded in Kenya’s history, underscoring the rapid expansion of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) system.
Schools have been directed to strictly adhere to the following timelines:
KPSEA: February 16 – March 16
KJSEA: March 2 – March 31
KCSE: February 16 – March 31
Institutions must upload accurate candidate data within the stipulated window — a process KNEC says will be closely monitored.
The Ministry of Education has issued a stern warning to school heads following last year’s registration mishaps.
Ogamba disclosed that some institutions uploaded incorrect gender details, while others failed to register eligible learners altogether — mistakes that can have life-altering consequences.
“These errors unduly and unfairly disenfranchise learners and expose the government to serious legal risks. We have to avert them at all costs,” he said.
He confirmed that heads of institutions found culpable in the 2026 cycle will face disciplinary action by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
Njegere further warned that wrong gender entries could follow a learner from Grade 3 through junior school, potentially resulting in misplacement into schools of the opposite gender.
“Registration errors have far-reaching implications on the young learners,” he cautioned.
Meanwhile, the government says the transition to Grade 10 under the CBC framework is now nearly 99 per cent complete, boosted by a presidential directive that no learner should be denied admission due to lack of school fees or uniform.
Ogamba said the upcoming introduction of Senior School will significantly reshape Kenya’s assessment systems, requiring the sector to reposition itself for the next phase of reforms.
KNEC Chairman Julius Nyabundi assured stakeholders of the council’s readiness, noting that logistical preparations — including portal upgrades, circulars, timetables and needs assessments — are already underway.
“We will put in place all possible measures to deliver the 2026 assessments and examinations successfully,” Nyabundi said.
With millions of learners set to register, the 2026 national exams cycle is shaping up to be a logistical mega-operation.
Parents and guardians have been urged to verify registration details early to avoid last-minute panic, while school heads are under pressure to ensure accuracy, timeliness and compliance.
As Kenya’s education system undergoes its most significant transformation in decades, one thing is clear: the 2026 exam season will be one for the history books.
