Education

KNEC to Introduce New KCSE Certificates as Digital Era Begins

Education ministry unveils pilot program targeting recent exam candidates in digital transformation push

Kenya’s education sector is set for a technological overhaul as authorities prepare to launch electronic certificates for national examinations, the Ministry of Education revealed this week.

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) will spearhead the transformation, with a pilot program targeting candidates who completed their national exams from 2023 forward. The initiative represents a significant shift in how the country manages academic credentials.

Speaking at KNEC headquarters in South C on Friday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba outlined the ministry’s vision for modernizing examination administration while cutting costs.

“We are implementing a secure, efficient, and environmentally sustainable electronic certificate system for certificates issued from 2023 onwards,” Ogamba stated. “This effort will strengthen data security, reduce operational expenses, improve accessibility, and bring Kenya in line with international digital standards.”

The pilot phase is slated to begin by month’s end, allowing KNEC to evaluate system performance before broader deployment. If successful, officials indicated the program may eventually encompass certificates from years prior to 2023.

However, KNEC officials clarified that Kenyans should continue safeguarding their paper certificates. “The pilot does not signal the complete elimination of physical certificates,” a council representative told Kenyans.co.ke. Further implementation details will be released when the pilot launches.

Alongside the e-certificate initiative, KNEC plans to introduce an online verification portal enabling employers, universities, and other organizations to authenticate certificates quickly. This measure aims to combat fraud and enhance confidence in Kenyan educational credentials domestically and abroad.

KNEC already maintains an online verification platform launched in mid-2025, though it remains in testing. The council also operates the Query Management Information System (QMIS), which allows users to verify results and obtain certification letters for misplaced documents.

The digital transformation marks Kenya’s latest effort to modernize its education infrastructure while addressing security concerns and operational efficiency in certificate management.