The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has detailed the procedures for student placements in universities and colleges, outlining that historical placement patterns and exam results will play a central role in the upcoming process, which is scheduled to start in March.

During an interview on a local TV station on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Agnes Wahome explained that the placement process will heavily draw on data from previous years, including student performance and course enrollment trends.

She also indicated that cut-off points for highly competitive courses are likely to increase slightly in 2026 placements, adding that they will conduct early research and make informed choices crucial for every student.

“You will see that this year we had 270,000 students who scored C+ and above, compared to 245,000 last year. This means competition will be higher. If the last student admitted to the University of Nairobi to pursue medicine scored 45.5 points, then this year it is likely to rise to 45.7 points. That is how the process works,” Wahome said.

The KUCCPS boss explained that the increase is due to a higher number of students qualifying for university admission in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, with popular courses such as medicine at top universities set to slightly rise by 0.7 points. 

About 270,000 candidates scored a mean grade of C+ and above, up from 245,000 in 2024, representing an increase of about 25,000 students.

Courses selection

Moreover, Wahome cautioned that many students are frequently influenced by parents, teachers, or guardians to select courses that do not align with their personal interests or career aspirations. She noted that this particularly impacts high-achieving students.

“Students with A and A-minus grades in sciences are often advised against pursuing the courses they actually want. Parents and teachers sometimes believe they are protecting them, but it can end up limiting their opportunities,” she stated.

In response, KUCCPS announced that it now opens the placement portal only after students have received their results, rather than while they are still in school.

This change, the placement authority said, is aimed at helping candidates make more informed choices based on accurate information.

The portal offers comprehensive data from the previous year, including the lowest grades admitted for each course and the cut-off points for different universities and colleges.

“This system helps students see realistic chances for admission. They can compare their grades to last year’s placements and plan accordingly, reducing the risk of being left out of their preferred courses,” Wahome said.