Updated 6 November 2026.
Direct answer: KNEC will hold supplementary assessments for diploma teacher trainees from 18 January to 12 February 2027. College principals register eligible trainees from 9 November to 15 December 2026 and send documents by 30 December. Only referred trainees, and some who missed July 2026 college-based assessments, qualify. The reported fee is Sh7,200.
What KNEC announced
Pulse reported on 5 November that a KNEC circular issued on 3 November gives teacher trainees another chance to clear outstanding units. Kenyans.co.ke reported the same day that the opportunity followed an appeal by the Kenya Teachers Colleges Principals Association. The appeal asked for another chance for referred trainees to meet the requirements for graduation in March 2027. Pulse describes the window as one for those who qualify, not a general examination for every trainee.
Key dates and rules
| Item | What was reported |
|---|---|
| Registration window | 9 November to 15 December 2026 |
| Principals' documents due | 30 December 2026 |
| Supplementary assessments | 18 January to 12 February 2027 |
| Individual timetables | Issued after registration closes (Kenyans.co.ke) |
| Fee | Sh7,200 per trainee, paid through eCitizen |
| Extra fee | Another Sh5,000 for trainees referred in practicum |
| Who registers trainees | The college principal, who generates the invoice after registration (Pulse) |
| Target graduation | March 2027 |
Who can register
- Referred trainees in the Diploma in Primary Teacher Education (DPTE), Diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (DSTE) and Diploma in Early Childhood Teacher Education (DECTE), who failed or were referred in earlier assessments.
- Trainees who missed the July 2026 Year One and Year Two college-based assessments (CLBAs) in DSTE or the DTE PP&P programme.
Both reports describe principals, not trainees, doing the registration. Principals send KNEC signed nominal rolls, medical reports for trainees living with disabilities, and proof of payment. Pulse names the KNEC department as the Teacher Education Assessments Management Services Department at New Mitihani House, South C.
What this means for trainees, families and colleges
If you are a trainee
Ask your principal now whether you are on the list and which units are outstanding. Our suggestion, not an official instruction, is to get the fee invoice from the college and pay only as the invoice directs, through eCitizen as reported. Keep the receipt.
If you pay fees for a trainee
The circular is reported as one payment of Sh7,200 per trainee, with Sh5,000 more for those referred in practicum. Check the amount against the college invoice before paying.
If you are a teacher or a school that hosts trainees
The resit weeks fall in January and February 2027, when schools are in Term 1. Our 2027 term dates guide and the Term 1 planning guide for teachers help you plan.
What we do not know yet
We have not seen the circular itself, only the two reports. We do not know the pass rules, the units offered, or what happens if a trainee misses the 15 December deadline. Reports describe the rule for small colleges differently, so we have left it out; ask your principal. We will update this page if KNEC publishes more on knec.ac.ke.
Frequently asked questions
When can teacher trainees register for the KNEC resit?
Registration runs from 9 November to 15 December 2026, done by college principals. The assessments themselves run from 18 January to 12 February 2027.
Who is allowed to sit the KNEC supplementary assessments?
Diploma trainees referred in earlier assessments, and some who missed the July 2026 college-based assessments. It is not open to every trainee.
How much is the KNEC supplementary assessment fee?
Sh7,200 per trainee, paid through eCitizen, plus Sh5,000 for trainees referred in practicum, as reported by Pulse and Kenyans.co.ke.
Can a teacher trainee register for the resit alone?
The reports describe principals registering trainees and sending documents to KNEC. Ask your college principal.
When will individual KNEC timetables be released?
Kenyans.co.ke reports that individual timetables will be provided after registration is complete. No date has been given.
Sources
- KNEC announces 2027 supplementary assessments for Diploma teacher trainees (Pulse, 5 Nov 2026)
- KNEC announces January 2027 assessments for teacher trainees who failed or missed exams (Kenyans.co.ke, 5 Nov 2026)
- Kenya National Examinations Council for the official circular
CBC Edu Kenya reports published statements. We have not seen the KNEC circular and rely on two news reports that agree on dates, eligibility and fees. Confirm everything with your college principal.
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