Exhibit 10(b)(3)

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


         In connection with the Report of Cohen & Steers Special Equity Fund,
Inc. (the "Company") on Form N-CSR for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002
as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), I, Robert H. Steers, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 'SS' 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

         (1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

         (2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company.


                                                         /s/ Robert H. Steers
                                                         ____________________
                                                         Robert H. Steers
                                                         Chief Executive Officer
                                                         Date: February 26, 2003