The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has listed eight mandatory requirements for registration of this years Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates.
Knec has opened registration of candidates wishing to sit the 2026 KCSE Examination to commence from 16th February and end on 31st March, 2026.
The examiner says registration of candidates for the exams will be strictly online.
Institutions shall therefore log into the KNEC registration portal (https://knec-portal.ac.ke) to capture registration details of their candidates using their examination centre login credentials.
Heads of institutions will be responsible for registration of their candidates.
They are tasked to ensure that all candidates presented for the examination are eligible.
Knec warned against registration of ghost candidates saying it constitute an examination malpractice, which attracts sanctions, including deregistration of the school as a KNEC examination centre.
All candidates are required to adhere to the laid down regulations on subject entry requirements for grading (subject clusters) as stipulated in the KNEC Rules and Regulations (2015).
Knec has listed requirements for candidates registering for this years KCSE exams.
First candidates must upload their correct passport size photographs (300 x 300 pixels). Knec said no replacement or changing of photographs will be allowed once the registration period is over.
The registration data for all the candidates presented for registration must also be accurate. This includes:
(1) correct spelling and order of candidates’ names as documented in their KCPE examination certificates;
(2) gender;
(3) year of birth;
(4) citizenship;
(5) entry Codes (F, 2nd or 3rd attempt);
(6) Birth Certificate number;
(7) subjects registered for; and
(8) Category of special needs and disabilities (where applicable), coded as follows:
i) B: for visually impaired candidates who require Braille (totally blind);
ii) LV: for visually impaired candidates who require Large Print papers (Low Vision);
iii) D: for candidates with hearing impairment (Deaf);
iv) P: for candidates with physical impairments.
Persons wishing to sit the KCSE examination as private candidates (those who are not enrolled in a regular school setting) shall be registered at Sub-County Directors of Education (SCDEs) offices.
These include repeaters (candidates who have sat the KCSE examination in previous years), wishing to improve on their grade.
The candidates may register as full repeaters (registering for seven or more subjects) or partial repeaters (registering for less than seven subjects).
It is mandatory for Heads of Institutions to declare repeaters registering for KCSE Examination in their institutions.
Any candidate wishing to repeat (full repeaters or partial repeaters) will be allowed to do so, regardless of the year they sat their KCSE examination, as long as there is proof of having registered for KCSE examination previously.
The candidates will sit their theory and practical papers at their County headquarters in examination centres to be identified by the County Directors of Education, while projects will be administered at sub-county level, in institutions to be identified by the respective SCDEs.
Candidates will only be allowed access into examination centres upon proof of their eligibility, including use of National Identity card, birth certificate and passport.
It is the responsibility of the candidates to follow up with their respective contact offices to ensure that they: are duly registered; confirm accuracy of their registration data; and to get information on the venues for rehearsals and administration of the examination.
The fees payable by private candidates will be Khs 7,200 and shall be borne by the candidate.
The fees shall be paid at the point of registration through E-Citizen, as per the details provided in the KNEC registration platform. Please note that fee payment is mandatory for successful registration.
All Education Officers and Heads of institutions have been ordered to adhere to the Regulations and User Guide for the Management of KCSE examination regarding payment of examination fees.
The Government through the Ministry of Education shall pay examination fees for all candidates in public and private schools except for the following categories of candidates:
1) candidates who are re-sitting/repeating the examinations;
2) Non-Citizens (Non Kenyans);
3) Private candidates registering in the Sub County Private Examination Centres.
The fees payable will be Kes. 7,200.00 and shall be borne by the candidate and shall be paid directly to KNEC through e-citizen platform.
Schools with less than five candidates will not be allowed to register candidates for the 2026 KCSE examination as independent examination centres.
Such schools are advised to liaise with their respective Sub-County Directors of Education (SCDEs) to identify an approved KNEC examination centre with more than five candidates for their learners to be registered.
Examination centres with less than thirty candidates shall be hosted in examination centres to be identified by the SCDEs, in line with the guidelines provided by KNEC on the same.
Their sub-county will be hosted for undertaking the examination projects. The candidates will sit for the other examination papers at the County headquarters as was the case in 2025.
KNEC said it reserves the right to deregister or place an examination centre and its candidates in another centre if deemed necessary, as provided for in the KNEC Rules and Regulations (2015).
All SCDEs and Heads of Institutions will log into the KNEC registration portal using their usernames and passwords.
They are therefore responsible for the use and security of the Passwords issued by KNEC for access to the KNEC portals.
Passwords are confidential and are intended for use by the designated user. Heads of institutions are therefore responsible for the security, custody and access of the passwords for their institutions;
It is the responsibility of Heads of institutions to safeguard their passwords so as to restrict access of the school’s registration and assessment related data by unauthorized persons;
In case of loss or forgotten password, the heads of institution should send an email to KNEC (kcse@knec.ac.ke) requesting for assistance or contact the SCDE;
All Heads of Institutions must confirm their Collection Centres (Distribution Centres/containers) where they will be served from during field administration of the Assessment with their SCDEs.
Heads of institutions will be informed when to present registration documents for their centres to their respective SCDEs’ offices.
All KCSE examination centres must be aligned to their nearest Distribution Centre for ease of twice collection of examination materials for each session.
All Heads of Institutions must confirm their Collection Centres (Distribution Centres/containers) where they will be served from during field administration of the examination with their SCDEs.
HOI’s are required to ensure that parents or guardians of the KCSE candidates consent to the collection of personal data of their learners;
They are also required to inform them that the data collected will be solely used for the purpose of conducting the examination and that KNEC will adhere to all the regulations and requirements for data protection.
The candidates will sign the nominal rolls and other accountability documents after confirming accuracy of the data.
Heads of institutions will present all registration documents for their centers in their respective SCDEs’ offices for verification by the SCDEs and KNEC.
There will be NO late registration of candidates once the portal is closed.
“All the relevant process owners and stakeholders, including parents and candidates must therefore be informed on the need to adhere to the set deadlines,” said Knec.
