The Ministry of Education has officially launched the registration process for the 2026 national examinations and assessments, covering the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced the kickoff during an event at the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) offices in South C, Nairobi, on February 13, 2026.

The registration exercise marks the beginning of preparations for the assessments and examinations scheduled later in the year under the Competency-Based Curriculum framework.

Registration timelines

Registration timelines are as follows: For KPSEA, the process runs from February 16 to March 16, 2026. KCSE registration opens on the same start date, February 16, and closes on March 31, 2026. KJSEA registration begins on March 2 and ends on March 31, 2026.

Schools are required to upload candidate data and finalise the registration within these stipulated periods through the designated online portals. Heads of institutions have been urged to adhere strictly to the deadlines to ensure no eligible learner is excluded.

“The registration dates for KPSEA will run from 16th February to 16th March 2026. The registration period for KJSEA will run from 2nd March to 31st March 2026, while the registration for KCSE will run from 16th February to 31st March 2026. Schools are expected to upload registration data and complete the registration process within the timelines stipulated,” a statement shared by KNEC read in part.

KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere said the council has initiated key logistical arrangements for the smooth conduct of the 2026 assessments and the KCSE examination.

These include preparing the online registration portals, drafting examination timetables, issuing circulars to guide the registration of 2026 candidates, conducting a needs analysis to identify areas for improvement, and developing a platform for registering Grade 10 learners.

Preparations and reforms

The launch comes amid ongoing reforms in the education sector aimed at enhancing transparency and efficiency in learner management and assessment processes.

To support the implementation of Competency-Based Assessment in senior schools, the ministry has established 235 senior school hubs across all 47 counties.

The hubs consist of purposively selected existing schools, five per county, representing public, private, rural, urban, and special needs institutions.

They are intended to facilitate interaction between KNEC and senior school learning communities and to provide support to schools in their respective counties during assessment rollout.

The announcement follows a nationwide audit of learner records by the Ministry of Education, which identified discrepancies in enrolment data within the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS).

The verification exercise identified ghost learners and non-operational schools, leading to the recovery of funds allocated based on inaccurate data.

In response, CS Ogamba directed disciplinary and criminal action against implicated education officials and school heads, with reports forwarded to the Teachers Service Commission and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.

The ministry said it will conduct termly verifications and accelerate the transition to the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) to enable real-time registration and reduce risks associated with data manipulation.

Schools and stakeholders have been advised to access the registration portals and ensure accurate submission of candidate details as preparations continue for the 2026 examination cycle.