The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced a new requirement for learners intending to sit the final Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination in 2027 without a Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) certificate or its equivalent.
According to a circular dated June 18, 2026, KNEC revealed that it will administer a KCSE Qualifying Test (QT) in September 2026 to determine the eligibility of affected candidates seeking registration for the 2027 KCSE examination.
The directive, which was addressed to County Directors of Education, officials in the Directorate of Adult and Continuing Education, Sub-County Directors of Education, and heads of secondary schools, targets learners who never sat the KCPE examination as well as those who missed the 2023 KCPE examination but were nevertheless allowed to transition to secondary school with approval from the Ministry of Education.
In the notice, KNEC stated: “The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will be administering the KCSE Qualifying Test (QT) in September 2026. In this regard, the council wishes to bring the following to the attention of all institutions and prospective 2027 KCSE examination candidates who may require the service.”
The examination body further clarified that all candidates lacking KCPE certificates or equivalent qualifications must first undergo a validation process before being allowed to sit the qualifying test.
“All persons without KCPE examination certificates or its equivalent who intend to register for the 2027 KCSE examination will present their primary school qualifications for validation by KNEC and thereafter sit the KCSE Qualifying Test,” the circular stated.
The council specifically noted that the requirement will also apply to learners who missed the 2023 KCPE examination but proceeded to secondary school under special authorization from the Ministry of Education.
Secondary school principals have been tasked with identifying all Form Three learners in 2026 who do not possess KCPE certificates and ensuring they comply with the new requirements within the stipulated timelines.
To facilitate validation, applicants will be required to submit an application letter, school report cards or other evidence of primary school attendance, and proof of payment of a KSh3,480 validation fee. In addition, candidates must pay a registration fee of KSh3,000 through the e-Citizen platform, bringing the total cost to KSh6,480.
Candidates will also be expected to provide supporting documents during registration, including a recommendation letter from their school or the Sub-County Director of Education, an official KNEC letter where applicable, a passport-size photograph, and a birth certificate or national identification card.
KNEC directed that all validation documents be presented at its Archives Division on the first floor of New Mitihani House in South C, Nairobi.
Successful applicants will receive clearance letters authorising them to register for the KCSE Qualifying Test. The council noted that registration for the examination is already underway through its online portal and is scheduled to close on July 30, 2026.
The results of the qualifying test will ultimately determine whether candidates can be registered for the 2027 KCSE examination.
The development comes as Kenya prepares for the final KCSE examination cycle in 2027 before fully transitioning to assessments under the Competency-Based Assessment Framework (CBAF), a key pillar of the government’s ongoing Competency-Based Education (CBE) reforms aimed at reshaping the country’s education system.
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