The Ministry of Education has issued a directive to all secondary schools across the country to release Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates that have been unlawfully withheld over unpaid school fees.
In a circular dated April 1, Principal Secretary for Basic Education Dr. Julius Bitok instructed all County Directors of Education to ensure the immediate release of the certificates, citing the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Act, 2012, which explicitly prohibits the withholding of examination documents under any circumstances.
“You are hereby directed to instruct all secondary schools within your respective jurisdictions to immediately release KCSE certificates to the affected students upon request,” Dr. Bitok stated in the directive.
The Ministry emphasized that holding back the certificates had severely impacted students’ ability to pursue further education or secure employment. Vulnerable students, especially those from low-income households, have been most affected — with some resorting to menial jobs or falling into depression due to lost opportunities.
“Schools are advised to utilise the established legal frameworks and alternative lawful methods to recover outstanding fees without withholding certificates,” read part of the circular.
County Directors of Education have been given 14 days from the date of the circular to ensure compliance and submit a detailed report to the Ministry.
This move follows an earlier announcement by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who reiterated that no learner should be denied access to their academic documents due to financial constraints. Ogamba noted that financial challenges should not be allowed to hinder learners’ progress or push them into despair.
