Starting next year, students finishing Form Four will collect their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates from sub-county education offices instead of their former schools, in a major policy shift aimed at protecting learners from unnecessary delays.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba explained that the change responds to persistent cases where school heads deny students access to certificates over unpaid fees, despite government rules forbidding such practices.

Funyula MP Wilberforce Oundo had raised concerns about the ongoing issue, asking why students continue to face obstacles when principals refuse to release certificates.

“Instead of these protracted tussles between the students and principals, why can’t the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) send the result slips directly to the students, just like e-Citizen and birth certificates, where you don’t have to go to the place where you were born to get a birth certificate?” he queried.

Ogamba supported the suggestion, saying, “That is an excellent idea, and we have also thought about sending the next results to our sub-county offices with copies of the register to the schools to confirm the certificates have been picked up by the students. That way, there will be no challenge or a situation where the students are suffering or being told to pay many things before receiving the certificate.”

Under the Knec Act of 2012, certificates cannot legally be held by schools or individuals. The government has long emphasised that withholding KCSE certificates is unlawful and that violators could face disciplinary or legal measures.

Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) Chairperson Willy Kuria welcomed the move, noting that in many cases, students themselves fail to collect certificates.

“We completely have no problem with that decision. In most cases, it is the students who fail to come for certificates,” he said, while also warning that sub-county offices will need to manage storage and large volumes, some dating back decades.

Charles Ochome, national chair of the Kenya Private Schools Association, also backed the decision, noting the certificates are government property.

“You know that is a policy of the government because it is them who print them (certificates). Whatever they decide, we have no problem,” he said.

The policy promises relief for students who have historically been penalised for unpaid school fees.

In May, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki reaffirmed that schools must release certificates immediately, with payment disputes handled separately.

“It is not an option; we are not requesting you. We are directing all heads of institutions to release certificates for the children of Kenya, and then we can follow up on the issue of payments as a separate issue. I speak on behalf of the President and government; principals, let's not play monkey games,” Prof Kindiki said in Nakuru County.

Earlier this year, Ogamba had warned principals that failing to comply could lead to disciplinary action through the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) or legal proceedings. He stressed that it is unfair to punish students for their parents’ obligations.

Some schools have resisted releasing certificates, citing financial losses and difficulties in recovering fees from parents.

The Ministry believes the sub-county system will resolve these disputes and ensure students receive their certificates without unnecessary hurdles.