In a bold move to protect students’ rights and uphold the integrity of the education system, the government has issued a strict directive targeting school principals who are unlawfully withholding national examination certificates from students due to unpaid school fees. Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura delivered a stern warning on Monday, April 14, making it clear that such practices will no longer be tolerated.
Mwaura emphasized that academic certificates, particularly the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), are the legal property of the student and not the institution. Denying students access to their own credentials is not only a violation of their rights but also a direct affront to Kenya’s education policies and the Constitution.
“The government will not tolerate this continued impunity,” Mwaura declared. “Stern actions will be taken against schools that continue to defy this directive.”
The Ministry of Education has already swung into action. All county directors of education have been given 14 days to submit a comprehensive report listing all uncollected certificates in their respective regions. This initiative aims to track the scale of the problem and ensure timely intervention.
Mwaura reiterated that the Ministry has received firm instructions to take immediate and decisive action against any individual or school found culpable. Legal and disciplinary repercussions await those who choose to ignore the directive, signaling the government’s resolve to end this long-standing issue.
This crackdown follows a previous announcement by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogomba on March 17. Ogomba assured the public that the government is taking steps to streamline certificate collection by shifting the process from schools to Subcounty Education offices. This new plan is expected to eliminate the power imbalance between students and schools that has enabled this practice to thrive.
“No school has the legal authority to withhold a student’s academic certificate,” CS Ogomba stated. “We are committed to ensuring that all students have equal access to their documents regardless of their financial situation.”
Further supporting the government’s stance, the National Assembly Committee on Education raised concerns on March 19 about the long-term consequences faced by students who lack official academic credentials. According to the committee, many young people are forced into untrained and often unsafe labor due to their inability to provide formal proof of education.
With the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) taking full effect, only three cohorts from the 8-4-4 system remain, all of whom will be sitting for their final KCSE exams soon. This transitional period underscores the importance of protecting every student’s right to access their academic history.
The government’s latest move sends a clear message: the days of schools using certificates as leverage over students are over. As the Ministry tightens enforcement and prepares to act against defiant schools, students across the country may finally breathe a sigh of relief—justice is on the way.
