By Andrew Kariuki

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) has issued a final appeal to 2025 KCSE candidates to complete and submit their university and college applications before the midnight deadline.

In a statement released on Wednesday, KUCCPS Chief Executive Officer Dr Agnes Mercy Wahome said the placement portal will officially close on May 6, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

“Many students have selected their courses and placed them in the ‘course basket’ but have not clicked the final submission button,” Dr Wahome said.

“Adding programmes in the course basket is not an application. You must complete the process and submit your choices before the midnight deadline to be considered in this first round of placement.”

KUCCPS noted that thousands of students had begun the application process but were yet to finalise their submissions.

According to the placement agency, out of the 268,714 candidates who attained the minimum university entry grade of C+ in the 2025 KCSE examinations, 207,308 had successfully submitted applications by Wednesday morning, representing 77 percent.

Dr Wahome assured candidates and parents that there is enough capacity across universities and technical institutions this year, with more than 1.4 million available slots nationwide.

The available opportunities include 322,396 university spaces and over 1.1 million slots in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions spread across 508 public and private institutions.

She also encouraged students to consider technical and skill-based courses, citing strong performance in practical subjects such as electricity, drawing and design, music, and woodwork.

“No student will be left behind. Following the closure of the portal tonight, we will process applications and then re-open for a second revision from May 16 to May 22, 2026, for those who may need to adjust their choices,” she said.

KUCCPS warned that candidates who fail to submit their applications before the deadline risk missing placement opportunities during the first selection phase.