The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has opened its 2026 registration window for national assessments. KPSEA registration for Grade 6 learners begins on 16 February and runs to 16 March 2026, with parallel windows set for KJSEA and KCSE. This article summarises the dates, requirements and steps schools and parents must follow to register eligible candidates correctly.
Key Takeaways
- KPSEA registration opens 16 February and closes 16 March 2026.
- KJSEA registration runs from 2 March to 31 March 2026; KCSE registration runs 16 February to 31 March 2026.
- Schools must use the KNEC CBA portal to register KPSEA and KJSEA candidates and ensure accurate candidate biodata.
- Only eligible learners may be registered; registering ghost candidates is an assessment malpractice that may lead to school de-registration.
Registration dates and expected candidature
KNEC launched the 2026 candidates registration exercise under the leadership of CEO David Njengere. For planning, KNEC expects approximately 3,700,000 candidates across national assessments in 2026.
- KPSEA (Grade 6): 16 February – 16 March 2026
- KJSEA (Grade 9): 2 March – 31 March 2026
- KCSE (Form 4): 16 February – 31 March 2026
Who must be registered and required records
Only eligible learners should be presented for KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE. Schools must confirm each learner’s details before completing registration.
Before registering a Grade 6 candidate for KPSEA, a school must ensure the learner has an assessment number obtained via the Grade 6 portal. Although learners received an assessment number in Grade 3, KNEC requires fresh registration to verify and correct biodata.
Key details schools must check and correct where necessary:
- Correct spelling and order of names as on the birth certificate
- Gender
- Year of birth
- Citizenship
- Religious education option (e.g., CRE, IRE, HRE)
- Categories of special needs and disabilities, where applicable
How schools register candidates
KPSEA and KJSEA registrations are completed through the KNEC Competency Based Assessment (CBA) portal. Headteachers and authorised examination officers should:
- Log in to the CBA portal and search for learners using the assessment number.
- Verify and update biodata fields listed above before saving registration.
- Download the KPSEA nominal roll after registration to confirm all candidate entries and details.
To support classroom preparation and record-keeping, schools can use available curriculum and exam resources such as CBC curriculum designs, Grade 6 scheme templates like Grade 6 schemes of work, or practice assessment materials for younger learners via the Grade 3 term 1 CBC exams resources.
Transfers, ghost candidates and sanctions
Any transfer requests for Grade 6 and Grade 9 candidates must be submitted online through the portal before the registration window closes. Transfers submitted after the portal is closed will not be allowed and may create duplicate registrations.
KNEC has warned strongly against registering ghost candidates. Presenting ineligible or non-existent learners constitutes assessment malpractice and can attract sanctions up to de-registration of the school as a KNEC assessment centre.
Checking registration and next steps for parents
After schools complete registration, parents can confirm whether a candidate is registered by sending an SMS to 20076. Use the candidate’s index number for KCSE or the assessment number for KPSEA/KJSEA, prefixed by the exam type. Example formats:
- KCSE: KCSE123506013
- KPSEA/KJSEA: KPSEA[assessment number] or KJSEA[assessment number]
A confirmation message will be returned showing whether the candidate with the provided index or assessment number is registered.
Grade 3 KEYA and early-year assessments
KNEC will also open the CBA portal for Grade 3 registration ahead of the Kenya Early Year Assessment (KEYA), which is the first national assessment for younger learners. KEYA includes practical activities in the second term and a written assessment in the third term. Schools should register Grade 3 learners promptly and prepare using appropriate teaching and assessment materials.
Final reminders for schools
- Verify each learner’s biodata carefully before submitting registration.
- Complete any transfers online before the portal closes to avoid duplicate entries.
- Maintain accurate School Based Assessment (SBA) records for Grades 7–8 where required for KJSEA.
- Keep downloaded nominal rolls and confirmation messages as proof of registration.
