Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has warned school principals against denying candidates registration for national examinations due to unpaid school fees, emphasising that exam fees are fully covered by the government.
He cautioned that principals who fail to register eligible candidates for the 2026 examinations would face serious administrative and disciplinary action.
Speaking during a Thanksgiving event at Kapsabet Girls High School, Ogamba said the Ministry of Education had received reports that some schools were withholding registration of candidates due to outstanding fee balances.
“We have received reports that some principals are not registering students for their examinations, candidates for 2026, because of balances of fees,” Ogamba said.
The CS stressed that examination fees are paid by the government and, therefore, no learner should be denied the opportunity to sit national examinations because of school fee arrears.
“Exams are paid for by the government, so no principal should fail to register a student to undertake the examinations in 2026 because they do not have school fees,” he said.
Ogamba warned that disciplinary measures would be taken against school administrators who fail to comply with the directive.
“If we find that that has happened, we will take serious administrative and disciplinary action against you,” he cautioned.
He also urged parents to remain vigilant and confirm that their children who are candidates have been registered for the national examinations.
“I want the parents to get involved and confirm that the students who are candidates have been registered to do the examinations in 2026 so that you do not come later to say that you are not aware that your learners have not been registered,” he said.
The CS said the move is aimed at ensuring all learners progress smoothly through the education system and eventually transition to university.
“Please get involved so that all our learners can transition to the next grade to universities in 2027,” he added.
Ogamba also highlighted progress in the education sector, noting that the government had successfully facilitated the transition of learners from Grade 9 to Grade 10 under the competency-based curriculum.
“Recently, when we undertook the transition of Grade Nine to Grade Ten, your support has enabled us to transition our learners from Grade Nine to Grade Ten at 99 percent nationally and 99.1 percent in the Rift Valley,” he said.
He further praised the performance of national schools, noting that some institutions had achieved exceptional university transition rates.
“We have in this school in the last two years transitioned 100 per cent of the students to university in 2024, and in 2025, the transition rate is 98.5. That is commendable,” Ogamba said.
The CS said the government plans to expand and strengthen national schools as part of a broader strategy to increase access to quality education and improve student outcomes.
“That is why we are saying these national schools need to be supported and expanded so that we can admit many more students and ensure our learners succeed in life,” he said.
Registration for the 2026 national examinations started on February 16, 2026, with the window also opened for candidates seeking to repeat the KCSE exam.
In a statement by KNEC on March 6, 2026, repeaters can register either as full repeaters—taking seven or more subjects and receiving a certificate—or as partial repeaters, who sit fewer subjects and receive a results slip.
The council noted that repeaters must pay a Sh7,200 examination fee through the eCitizen platform and register through the Sub-County Director of Education offices.
KNEC also said the registration window for the 2026 KCSE examination closes on March 31, with no extension planned.