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The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has formally announced the nomination process for Grade 9 learners transitioning into Senior School in January 2026.
In a circular dated September 15, KNEC, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, outlined the procedure for selecting students into one of three Senior School pathways based on their talents, interests, and potential.
The pathways include Arts and Sports Science, Social Sciences, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).
The ministry is calling for nominations of learners with exceptional abilities in the Creative Arts and Sports domains, specifically Music and Dance, Theatre, Visual Arts, or Sports, for placement in the Arts and Sports Science Pathway.
“Learners often demonstrate exceptional abilities, talents, and interests in areas that are not fully captured through conventional academic assessments,” reads the circular signed by Dr. David Njengere, Chief Executive Officer of KNEC.
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KNEC on Why the Nomination Process is Important
To ensure fairness and accuracy, schools are required to use a Ministry-developed Nomination Tool and submit supporting evidence such as records of competitions, performances, and original works.
The nomination process aims to provide a more holistic and evidence-based approach to learner placement under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
All nominations must be submitted via the official portal https://nomination.knec.ac.ke by Friday, October 17, 2025.
Schools will use their assigned credentials to access the portal and are expected to change their passwords upon first login for security purposes.
KNEC stated that submissions should be made objectively, only for learners who show exceptional talent in the specified domains.
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The heads of institutions have been urged to treat this exercise with the “utmost priority,” as it plays an important role in ensuring proper learner placement and supporting the broader CBC mission to nurture individual talents.
Grade 9 Nomination Process
The process of nominating Grade 9 learners for the Arts and Sports Science Pathway in senior school, effective January 2026:
- Login and Access: Schools log in to the official KNEC portal (https://nomination.knec.ac.ke) using their school code as theusername and password.
- Instructions and Guidance: Review the step-by-step user manual on the portal to navigate the nomination process.
- Data Submission: Enter and submit learner details online after following instructions, with a deadline of Friday, October 17, 2025.
- Accuracy and Evidence: Provide sincere, accurate information supported by evidence (e.g., competition records, awards, original works, exhibitions) in prescribed formats, uploaded via the nomination tool.
- Priority: Heads of institutions must prioritize this exercise to ensure proper learner placement aligned with Competency-Based Education goals.
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