Schools across the country have received the 2024 KCPE and KCSE certificates, following their release by the Kenya National Examinations Council, allowing candidates to begin collecting the documents required for further studies and work opportunities.
The council said the distribution process has already been completed through education offices at the sub-county level.
In a statement issued on Thursday, December 18, KNEC said the certificates were sent to all schools nationwide using Sub-County Directors of Education as the main distribution channel. Candidates were advised to contact the schools where they sat their examinations to obtain the certificates.
"Candidates are advised to liaise with the schools where they sat the examinations to collect the certificates," KNEC stated.
Alongside the release, the council reminded schools that they have no legal right to deny candidates their certificates for any reason. KNEC said cases where certificates are held due to unpaid school fees or other issues remain unlawful and must be reported immediately.
"Any candidate whose certificate is withheld should report to the sub-county director of education," the council stated.
Education officials said the directive is meant to safeguard learners and prevent delays that could lock students out of colleges, training institutions, or employment opportunities that require proof of academic completion.
The warning comes against the backdrop of repeated complaints from students and parents who say some schools continue to hold KCSE certificates as a way of pushing families to clear fee balances. KNEC has maintained that the practice violates the law and should not be used as a recovery method.
School administrators have in the past argued that releasing certificates without settling arrears leaves institutions exposed to financial losses. Some principals say it becomes nearly impossible to trace former students once they leave school.
Certificates have also been withheld in cases where students failed to return school property such as books, laboratory items, or other learning materials issued during their studies. Other schools have cited pending disciplinary matters as a reason for retaining the documents.
Earlier in 2025, the Ministry of Education issued a 14-day deadline directing all schools to release certificates that had been withheld for any reason. The ministry warned that school heads who failed to comply would face prosecution and possible jail time.
"Holding a student's Certificate when they have completed school based on either school fees or that a student lost a book is unlawful," Education CS Julius Ogamba stated on March 24, 2025.
The ministry also announced that from 2025, the collection of certificates would shift away from schools, with candidates required to pick up their documents directly from sub-county education offices, a move aimed at ending the long-running disputes over certificate release.
