Former KCSE and KCPE candidates can now access and download digital copies of their examination certificates online after the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) unveiled a new electronic certificate platform.
The new system is expected to ease the long-standing challenge faced by thousands of Kenyans who have lost their certificates or have struggled to access them, eliminating the need to visit KNEC offices or return to their former schools.
According to KNEC, the platform serves candidates whose examination records are available in its database from 1989 to 2025.
Applicants will be required to create an account on the e-Certificate portal, complete identity verification and pay the prescribed fee before downloading a verifiable digital copy of their certificate.
To begin the process, users must register using a valid email address before filling in their personal details.
Kenyan applicants will also be required to provide their National Identity Card details, which will be verified automatically through the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS).
Once their identity has been confirmed, applicants will enter their examination index number, select either KCSE or KCPE, and indicate the year they sat the examination.
Candidates whose information is successfully verified will then be prompted to pay a certificate generation fee of Ksh1,200, exclusive of VAT and applicable eCitizen transaction charges.
Once the payment is confirmed, the certificate will then be created and will be downloadable in Portable Document Format (PDF).
According to KNEC, “every digital certificate will have a unique verification hash based on blockchain technology, which will enable institutions like employers and universities to confirm its authenticity.”
The certificate can be downloaded from the platform within six months of being issued.
Beyond allowing candidates to retrieve their certificates, the new platform also enables users to send official verification reports directly to universities, employers and other organisations that require proof of academic qualifications.
In addition, KNEC has introduced a separate verification portal for institutions, including universities, government agencies, employers and professional bodies, to verify academic certificates submitted by applicants.
For organisations processing large numbers of applications, the system supports bulk verification of up to 1,000 certificates at once through the upload of a CSV file together with the relevant certificate documents.
The introduction of the digital platform marks a major shift in how national examination certificates are accessed and verified, with KNEC aiming to make the process faster, more secure and more convenient for both certificate holders and institutions that rely on academic credentials.
