The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has officially opened the registration portal for the 2026 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), urging school heads across the country to register Grade 9 learners early and avoid last-minute delays.

According to the council, the registration window opened on March 2, 2026, and will remain open until March 31, 2026. The exercise is being conducted through the Competency-Based Assessment (CBA) portal, which schools use to submit learners’ details for national assessments.

KNEC cautioned headteachers and principals against waiting until the final days to register candidates, warning that delays could disrupt exam planning and placement into senior secondary schools.

Registration for 2026 KJSEA Now Underway

The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) is a key national evaluation administered at the end of Grade 9 under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). The results play a major role in determining learners’ transition to Senior School pathways.

KNEC announced that registration began two weeks after the start of registration for other national assessments, including the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

School administrators are expected to access the registration system through the official CBA portal, where they will log in using their institution’s centre code before submitting candidate information.

Once logged in, the head of institution must update their personal details, including name and mobile phone number, before proceeding with learner registration. A one-time verification code is then sent to the registered phone number to confirm access to the portal.

KNEC Warns Against Last-Minute Registration

KNEC has strongly urged school heads to complete the registration process early to prevent congestion on the portal and administrative complications. In its advisory to institutions, the council warned that last-minute submissions have previously caused major challenges during national examination registration cycles.

The council emphasized:

“As the head of the institution or principal, have you registered your candidates? Do not wait for the last-minute rush.”

Officials noted that delayed registration can interfere with planning for the national exams and affect the timely placement of learners into senior secondary schools.

Why Early Registration Matters

KNEC explained that early candidate registration helps ensure: accurate learner data verification, proper examination centre planning, smooth administration of national assessments and timely placement of learners into senior schools

In previous years, the council received thousands of requests for late registration after portals had already closed, forcing authorities to handle last-minute appeals from schools and parents. By encouraging institutions to complete the process early, KNEC hopes to avoid similar disruptions during the 2026 examination cycle.

What Schools Should Do Now

School heads are advised to take the following steps immediately:

1. Log into the CBA portal (cba.knec.ac.ke).
2. Update institutional and administrator details.
3. Verify the list of Grade 9 learners.
4. Complete and submit the candidate registration before March 31, 2026.

Parents are also encouraged to follow up with schools to confirm that their children have been registered for the assessment.

The Role of KJSEA in the CBC System

KJSEA is a critical milestone in Kenya’s Competency-Based Curriculum, evaluating the knowledge and competencies learners acquire during junior secondary school.

The final learner score is calculated using a combination of: 60% from the KJSEA exam, 20% from KPSEA performance and 20% from School-Based Assessments conducted in Grades 7 and 8.

These results help determine the pathway students will pursue in senior school, including academic, technical, or arts and sports pathways.

Final Reminder from KNEC

With the registration window already open, KNEC is urging all schools to avoid procrastination and complete the process well before the deadline. Failure to register learners in time could result in candidates being unable to sit the 2026 assessment, forcing them to defer to the following year. School administrators are therefore encouraged to act promptly to ensure every eligible learner is registered in time.