The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has officially kicked off preparations for the placement of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates by inviting universities and colleges to submit details of their programmes and capacities.
In a letter dated October 6, 2025, addressed to Vice-Chancellors and Principals of University Colleges, KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Dr. Agnes Mercy Wahome requested the institutions to upload their available programmes through the KUCCPS online placement system.
The process, formally known as the Declaration of Programmes and Capacities, marks the beginning of next year’s university and college placement cycle.
“Please note that the declared programmes must be those currently offered by your institution and duly accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE), or by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) in the case of TVET programmes,” Dr. Wahome stated in the letter.
According to KUCCPS, the declaration exercise will run from October 6 to October 31, 2025, after which the data will be compiled to guide the 2026 student placement process for the 2025 KCSE class as well as candidates from previous years who wish to apply for placement.
The same directive has been extended to National Polytechnics, Technical and Vocational Colleges, Technical Training Institutes, Institutes of Technology, and Secondary Teacher Training Colleges, ensuring all learning institutions under the placement system are adequately represented in the upcoming cycle.
“This process ensures that the programmes made available to students through the KUCCPS system reflect the latest approved and accredited courses,” said Dr. Wahome.
“Our goal is to guarantee that learners are placed in institutions offering quality, market-relevant, and certified programmes.”
In addition, KUCCPS has reached out to the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and the Kenya School of Law (KSL), requesting them to submit their approved programmes and available capacities for inclusion in the online system.
The Kenya Medical Training College will have its declared courses published in the KUCCPS placement portal in readiness for the 2026 placement cycle, while the Kenya School of Law’s Diploma in Law (Paralegal Studies) programme will also be featured after a successful debut this year.
“We are pleased to note that the Diploma in Law (Paralegal Studies) at the Kenya School of Law was filled to capacity after it was introduced on the KUCCPS platform for the first time this year,” said Dr. Wahome.
“This demonstrates the value of expanding placement options to include professional training institutions that equip learners with practical and employable skills.”
KUCCPS emphasized that only accredited programmes will be accepted during the declaration period, underscoring the agency’s continued commitment to quality assurance in higher and technical education.
“We continue to collaborate closely with regulatory bodies like CUE and TVETA to ensure that every programme listed for placement meets the required standards of quality and relevance,” Dr. Wahome added.
The declaration of programmes is a key step that precedes the KUCCPS student application and placement process, which determines how students who sit the KCSE examinations are distributed among universities, colleges, and technical institutions across the country.
Every year, KUCCPS coordinates the placement of thousands of students to public universities and TVET institutions based on their performance, choices, and available capacity.
The process also gives a chance to previous KCSE candidates who wish to revise their course selections or apply afresh for government-sponsored programmes.
“Our focus remains on ensuring fairness, transparency, and merit-based placement for all qualified candidates,” said a senior official from the Placement Service.
“We encourage institutions to declare their programmes accurately and within the given timeline so that the 2026 placement cycle runs smoothly.”
The declaration process also plays a crucial role in helping KUCCPS update its online system to reflect new programmes introduced by institutions and remove those that may have been discontinued or suspended.
“The Declaration of Programmes and Capacities allows us to maintain an up-to-date database of courses, which is essential for effective career guidance and informed decision-making by students,” Dr. Wahome explained.
KUCCPS has over the years expanded its mandate to include placement to technical and vocational institutions, broadening opportunities for learners to pursue various career pathways beyond traditional university degrees.
As the 2025 KCSE candidates prepare for their examinations later this year, the declaration process signals the start of a busy placement cycle that will determine the next generation of learners joining higher education in 2026.
