Kenya's KNEC to roll out e-certificates for national exams

Digital paperwork is about to shake up Kenya’s exam system, cutting printing costs and making fake credentials way harder to slip through.

E-certificate rollout plan

• The Ministry of Education in Kenya just greenlit digital exam certificates.
• Kenya National Examinations Council is kicking off a trial run.
• Julius Ogamba pitched it at the KNEC offices in South C.
• Ogamba tied the shift to global digital standards.

Who gets covered first

• Candidates from 2023 onward are first in line.
• KNEC is testing the setup before scaling it nationwide.
• February’s pilot window gives tech teams room to stress-test it.

Why the switch matters

• The new system locks down data with tighter security controls.
• Electronic access makes retrieval easier for schools and students.
• Digital files cut printing expenses and trim paper waste.
• Verification upgrades aim to shut down certificate scams.

Physical copies still stick around

• Kenya National Examinations Council confirmed that paper certificates stay valid.
• Officials pushed back on rumors about ditching hard copies.
• Traditional documents will still work for job applications.
• Institutions can keep accepting printed credentials during the transition.