The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued a stern warning that there will be no late registration for the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. Schools and private candidates have been urged to complete registration before the March 31 deadline, as no extensions will be allowed.
In a notice, KNEC said registration for the 2026 national exams began on February 16 and will close on March 31. “The clock is ticking on the registration of candidates for the 2026 KCSE examination. Please note that there will be no late registration,” the council emphasized.
The 2026 KCSE will be the second-last exam under the outgoing 8-4-4 system, ahead of the full transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). “This is the second last KCSE examination as we transition to the Competency Based Education. Therefore, candidates only have two chances left to sit the examination,” KNEC stated.
Candidates can register either as regular school candidates or as private candidates. Private candidates are required to visit the nearest Sub-County Director of Education office to complete their registration. They must also pay an examination fee of Sh7,200 directly to KNEC through the eCitizen platform.
KNEC said private candidates will sit their theory and practical exams at designated county headquarters, with centres to be identified by County Directors of Education. Project-based assessments for private candidates will be conducted at sub-county level in centres designated by the respective Sub-County Directors of Education.
The KCSE has been Kenya’s main secondary school examination for decades, determining learners’ eligibility for universities, colleges, and technical institutions. The shift to the CBC aims to focus more on practical skills, creativity, and applied learning, moving away from purely academic performance.
The final KCSE under the 8-4-4 system is expected in 2027, marking the full adoption of the CBC framework across the country.
