Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has issued a serious warning to school principals who are still holding onto students’ national examination certificates due to unpaid school fees.
In a strong statement released on Monday, April 14, Mwaura emphasized that any principal who is found illegally keeping students’ certificates will face both legal and disciplinary actions.
He revealed that the Ministry of Education has already instructed county directors of education to prepare and submit a detailed report of all uncollected academic certificates in their counties within the next 14 days.
“The government will not allow this kind of impunity to continue,” Mwaura stated. “We have given the Ministry firm orders to take immediate and decisive action against any person or school that goes against this directive.”
He explained that examination certificates belong to the students and not the schools. Withholding these documents not only goes against the law but also violates the fundamental rights of children.
Mwaura added that blocking students from accessing their academic certificates weakens the education system and limits their future opportunities.
“Every student has a right to access their academic documents. Denying them these certificates violates their rights and weakens the foundation of our national education system,” Mwaura stressed.
This warning comes just a few weeks after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogomba made a similar announcement.
The CS said the government is working on a plan to make sure that all Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates are collected directly from government offices, instead of schools.
CS Ogomba, speaking on March 17, made it clear that schools have no legal authority to withhold students’ certificates.
He called the act illegal and harmful, especially to students who are trying to move forward with their lives after finishing school.
He also encouraged current candidates and former students to collect their certificates from the Subcounty Education offices rather than returning to their former schools.
Earlier, on March 19, members of the National Assembly Committee on Education expressed concern about the large number of young people in Kenya who lack official academic documents.
They pointed out that many of these students end up taking low-paying, untrained jobs because they cannot prove their education level.
With the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) gradually replacing the old system, only three more groups of students from the 8-4-4 system are still left to sit for the KCSE exams.
As the country transitions, the government wants to ensure that no student is left behind simply because their certificate is being withheld.
This latest move shows the government’s commitment to protecting the rights of students and ensuring fairness and access to education for all.
Join Our Political Forum official 2025 WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
