School principals across the country have been put on notice after the Teachers Service Commission directed them to hand over all KCPE and KCSE certificates in their possession to former candidates without delay.
In fresh instructions issued by acting CEO Evaleen Mitei, the commission cautioned that retaining the documents is against the law and undermines learners’ rights.
The order follows sustained complaints from parents, guardians and students who say some schools have refused to release certificates, locking many out of college admissions and job opportunities.
“The Teachers Service Commission continues to receive complaints from parents, guardians, learners, and stakeholders that some heads of institutions are unlawfully and irregularly withholding KCPE and KCSE certificates,” Mitei said
“The Commission hereby directs that all heads of institutions shall, with immediate effect, release all certificates currently held in their custody to the respective learners or their authorised parents or guardians," she added.
The commission stressed that certificates are the property of the learners and should not be used as a tool to force payment of fee arrears or settle other disagreements between schools and families.
The directive comes months after the Ministry of Education issued a similar order in 2025 requiring institutions to release any withheld certificates.
In December 2025, schools received the 2024 KCPE and KCSE certificates following their release by the Kenya National Examinations Council, enabling candidates to start collecting the crucial documents for further studies and employment.
KNEC confirmed that the distribution was completed through sub-county education offices. In a statement issued on Thursday, December 18, the council said it had delivered the certificates to schools nationwide through Sub-County Directors of Education and advised candidates to reach out to the schools where they sat their examinations.
"Candidates are advised to liaise with the schools where they sat the examinations to collect the certificates," KNEC stated.
The council also made it clear that schools have no legal authority to hold onto certificates for any reason. It directed that cases of withheld documents be reported to the relevant education offices for action.
"Any candidate whose certificate is withheld should report to the sub-county director of education," the council stated.
For years, some institutions have cited unpaid fees, failure to return textbooks, laboratory equipment and other school items as grounds for detaining certificates. Others have pointed to unresolved disciplinary cases.
Earlier in 2025, the Ministry of Education issued a 14-day notice compelling all schools to release certificates kept in their custody. The ministry warned that non-compliance would lead to prosecution and possible jail terms for head teachers.
"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.
To prevent future standoffs, the ministry further announced that from 2025, the collection process would shift from schools to sub-county education offices, where candidates would directly obtain their certificates, a change aimed at ending the recurring disputes.
