The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has issued an update indicating the release of the KCPE and KCSE certificates for the year 2024, as the result certificates have been dispatched to the respective schools across the country.
Through a statement it filed on Thursday, December 18th, KNEC explained that in order to reach all candidates, “The certificates were distributed through the Sub-County Directors of Education’s offices nationwide. The candidates are advised to collect their certificates from the schools where they had written their exams.”
“The candidates are advised to contact the schools where they took the examinations in order to acquire the certificates,” the council stated.
Together with the announcement, the KNEC released another warning to the schools warning them that the act of holding certificates belonging to the students is illegal even if the tuition has not been paid. They directed the affected students to approach the sub-county director of education.
“Any student whose certificate shall not be issued shall report to the sub-county director of education,” said KNEC.
According to education authorities, the above measure is taken to promote the rights of the students and ensure that they have timely access to their academic documents, which are critical to their further education, training, and job opportunities.
On the other hand, school administrators believe the issuance of certificates without resolving the payment issue puts a strain on the school’s resources, considering the fact that it becomes a struggle to collect the fees when the students are no longer in the school. Additionally, the certificate can also be withheld due to unreturned school materials.
In the early months of 2025, an ultimatum lasting 14 days was issued by the Ministry of Education directing all schools to return all withheld certificates, regardless of their reasons. Those who disregarded the directive could go to jail, according to the warning.
“Holding a student’s certificate pending completion of school, over school fees or lost books, is illegal,” Education Cabinet Secretary, Julius Ogamba, said on March 24, 2025.
The ministry has confirmed that from 2025, candidates will receive their examination certificates from sub-county education departments instead of schools. This will see an end to the long-standing dispute between schools and their past candidates regarding the release of the certificates.
As certificates for 2024 are set to reach schools, students and parents are urged to use appropriate channels to report any instances of unlawful withholding to education authorities.
