The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued fresh directives requiring schools to verify candidate registration details for the 2026 national examinations, in a move aimed at eliminating errors and strengthening the integrity of the assessment process.
KNEC will collect all verification materials between May 4 and May 8, placing schools under pressure to meet the timelines and avoid disruptions in the examination process.
The directive follows the completion of registration for KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE candidates, which ran from February 16 to March 31, with the Council now finalising data verification before the exam cycle progresses.
“The verification process is critical in ensuring that all candidates are correctly registered and that errors are eliminated early,” KNEC said.
Heads of institutions have been instructed to collect the official Green Nominal Rolls from Sub-County Education offices and use them to validate candidate information against the previously generated White Nominal Rolls.
“School heads must carefully validate the Green Nominal Rolls against earlier records to confirm accuracy and completeness of all entries,” the Council directed.
KNEC has also emphasised inclusivity in the verification process, requiring schools to involve parents, guardians and candidates to confirm details and resolve discrepancies identified during earlier SMS confirmations.
“Parents and candidates must be involved in verifying details to ensure that any errors previously identified are properly corrected,” the circular states.
In a move aimed at enhancing accountability, all candidates will be required to append their signatures on the nominal rolls as proof of verification.
“All candidates must sign against their details to confirm accuracy and acknowledge that they have verified their registration information,” KNEC stated.
The Council further outlined strict procedures for making corrections, noting that any amendments must be indicated using red ink on the Green Nominal Rolls and supported by proof of payment of a Sh1,000 penalty per candidate.
“Any corrections must be clearly indicated in red ink and accompanied by proof of payment of the required penalty,” the directive reads.
KNEC warned schools against adding unregistered learners during the verification stage, stressing that such entries will not be accepted under any circumstances.
“Schools must not add unregistered candidates to the nominal rolls, as such entries will not be honoured,” the Council cautioned.
Institutions that registered fewer than 10 candidates have been directed to liaise with Sub-County Directors of Education to identify alternative centres, with KNEC warning that failure to comply could lead to deregistration.
“Failure to adhere to the minimum candidate requirement may lead to deregistration of the examination centre,” the Council warned.
Additionally, schools are required to submit fully verified and signed Green Nominal Rolls alongside key supporting documents, including reports for candidates with special needs, KCSE photograph albums, and proof of fee payments.
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“Submission of complete and verified documents is mandatory to ensure smooth administration of the 2026 examinations,” KNEC said.
The latest directive highlights KNEC’s push to tighten examination management systems and ensure a credible and error-free process as the country prepares for the 2026 national assessments.
By Joseph Mambili
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