KNEC Launches Digital Certificate Platform for KCPE, KCSE Candidates
Once payment is confirmed, the digital certificate is generated and made available for download in Portable Document Format (PDF).
KNEC Logo with Green background. Photo:Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has launched a new electronic certificate platform that enables former national examination candidates to access and download verified digital copies of their academic certificates online.
The platform, which covers certificates issued between 1989 and 2025, is expected to ease access to academic credentials, particularly for thousands of former students who have lost their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) or Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates.
Under the new system, applicants can obtain a digital certificate without visiting KNEC offices or their former schools. Users are required to create an account on the e-Certificate portal, complete identity verification, pay the required fee, and download a digitally authenticated certificate.
According to KNEC’s user guide, applicants must first register using a valid email address before completing their personal profile. Kenyan applicants are required to provide their National Identity Card details, which are automatically verified through the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS).
After successful identity verification, applicants must enter their examination index number, select the examination type, either KCPE or KCSE, and indicate the year they sat the examination.
Candidates whose records are successfully verified are then required to pay a certificate generation fee of KSh1,200, excluding Value Added Tax and applicable eCitizen transaction charges.
Once payment is confirmed, the digital certificate is generated and made available for download in Portable Document Format (PDF).
KNEC said every digital certificate is embedded with a blockchain verification hash, allowing employers, learning institutions and other organizations to authenticate its validity. Downloaded certificates will remain accessible through the platform for six months.
The council also said the new system allows certificate holders to send official verification reports directly to universities, employers and other institutions that require proof of academic qualifications.
In addition to serving individual applicants, KNEC has introduced a separate verification portal for organizations, including universities, employers, government agencies and professional bodies, to verify academic certificates submitted by applicants.
The verification platform also supports bulk processing, allowing organizations handling large numbers of applications to verify up to 1,000 certificates in a single request by uploading a CSV file together with the relevant certificate documents.
The rollout is part of KNEC’s broader efforts to digitize examination services and improve access to academic records while strengthening the security and authenticity of national examination certificates.
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