How to Validate Authenticity of Educational Certificate (KNEC)

The problem of fake certificates is a global challenge. The National Student Clearinghouse, a US organization that offers a certificate verification service, reports that prevalence of falsified academic credentials is a serious, prevalent and growing problem. In 2015 the New York Times reported on a billion-dollar industry consisting of 3,300 “diploma mills”. These were fake universities and colleges that sold certificates for all levels of certification, worldwide. We also have in the world many universities and colleges awarding certificates that they have no accreditation or mandate to do so. We are going to learn diffrent ways on How to Validate Authenticity of Educational Certificate (KNEC)

The problem of buying totally fake academic certificates is only a small part of the problem. Some people who have genuine certificates, falsify their academic transcripts or even the final grade or classification of the qualification. In the recent past, counterfeiting of qualifications has been made easier through use of ICT and related technologies. In Africa, like elsewhere, higher education is highly sought-after and provides a measure of status and improved job prospects, which has made it more difficult for people to resist the temptation of adding or altering  the qualifications that they have. The challenge in many countries, especially in Africa remains rampant, as employers or Government have not put in place any mechanisms to counter it. For example, it is generally thought that 30 to 40% of all qualifications in Africa are falsified and/or fake. But apart from South Africa many countries in Africa have not put in place systems to detect and deter the use of fake and falsified documents. In spite of this, In 2018, South Africa saw a sharp increase in the number of fraudulent qualifications reported to regulatory bodies such as the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

It is generally thought that fake credentials are becoming more common in Kenya. And here, they take the form of buying totally fake academic certificates, falsified documents, using documents that belong to other people, and certificates issued by colleges and universities that do not have manage to do so. Before enactment of the KNQF act of 2014, there was no centralized place for reporting of fake certificates in the country.  This posed a serious problem for colleges, universities and employers. It undermined their legitimacy and reputation and robed honest candidates of opportunities for further education and/or employment. Validate Authenticity of Educational Certificate

For colleges and universities, fake qualifications pose a reputational risk – as other colleges, countries and employers do not trust their qualifications. If students with fake certificates from a specific college manage to gain entry on a falsified transcript, their performance will be below standard. Future applicants from that college or university may be disadvantaged by association. This also poses a risk to university selection criteria data and policy, as it damages the validity of using prior academic records from universities and colleges across the country as a predictor of success.

Another consequence is that a high prevalence of fraudulent qualifications has increased the tendency for universities to hire their own students mostly–for further study, or even employment, rather than recruiting from further afield. That’s because students who’ve already been trained by the institution are more easily verified and represent a known entity.

It is because of this observation that the KNQA is now putting in place a mechanism to verify and weed out fake certificates in the country. These include the use of a robust verification system, reference checking and competency-based interviews (policies, standards and guidelines still under development).  For us to do this effectively, we are developing a system that links higher education institutions to a centralized database where third party queries may be done. The service will verify KCSE, KASNEB, TVET level and University level certificates and qualifications. The system also checks whether an academic institution is accredited by the relevant government body. To do this the system is currently recruiting all institutions that award qualifications in the country to register and to commit to submit data on their graduates in a timely manner. Validate Authenticity of Educational Certificate

While this is on-going the Authority through its VeriCert program has started on a pilot basis to verify certificates using a manual system that involves the use of forensic experts for corporate organizations only. It is hoped that lessons learnt from this process will assist in the development of a robust online qualifications verification system for Kenya. The service costs Ksh.1000 for each certificate verified and is available to corporate clients only. To use the service, send us a copy of the certificate and transcripts for the qualification that you intend to verify.

To apply for verification of your certificates click on the link below:

Application form for Verification of a Certificate

Procedure B

Validating or confirming the authenticity of education certificates in Kenya is done by making an Application for Statement of Examination Result to Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC).

Apply In-Person

1. Visit the Kenya National Education Council offices or KNEC Website to initiate the application.
2. At the KNEC offices you will be given Application for Statement of Examination Result form to complete. You can also download the Application for statement of examination results form from the KNEC Website.
3. You should fully complete the application form stating the reason for equation and give the postal address of the institution or organization which requested for the equation.
4. Attach the following documents with the application form before submission.
   (a) The original certificates and birth certificate for equation of primary school certificates whose owners are minors (these will be returned to the owner after the verification excise).
   (b) Photocopies Results slips are also acceptable for all examinations except for the CPE & KCPE examinations.(c) Where a copy of certificate or results slip is missing, the applicant MUST obtain an introduction letter from school and a certified copy of a results printout for the particular year from their former schools/colleges and County Directors or Sub-County Directors for private candidates and schools that have since closed.
   (d) For modular courses (Business, Technical and SNE) all copies of results slips for all the modular courses must be attached to the application form for confirmation of results.
5. The following are the charges charged for an Application for Statement of Examination Result by KNEC
   Within Kenya ………………………………… Ksh 2,320
   Outside Kenya ………………………………..Ksh 3,480
   • Statements are normally dispatched through registered mail at no extra cost. However, those wishing to use courier services will be changed according to the distance of the destination. Clients are accepted to meet the extra cost. Those wishing to use fax will be charged an extra cost of
   • Fax within Kenta Ksh 928
   • Fax outside Kenya Ksh 1,392
6. Payments are to be made to the General Transactions account in any of the four bank accounts given below using the KNEC deposit slips available at the banks:
   (i) Cooperative Bank of Kenya Ltd 01136030120307
   (ii) National Bank of Kenya Ltd 01001-60314300
   (iii) Kenya Commercial Bank 1116686937
   (iv) Equity Bank 047-0294988491
7. After making the payment you should forward the deposit slip with the Application for Statement of Examination Result, KNEC.
   • You are advised not to pay for the service of equation before their documents are verified by the Kenya National Examinations Council.
   • Money deposited for the purpose of equating a certificate (deposit slips) are only valid if submitted to KNEC within twelve (12) months after banking.
8. . If you are not applying from the KNEC you should send the application to the following address.
   Chief Executive Officer,
   Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC),
   P. 0. Box 73598- 00200 City Square, Nairobi;
9. It takes 10 working days to process and dispatch the statements. Old examinations may take longer.
10. Statements are normally dispatched through registered mail at no extra cost. However, those wishing to use courier services will be changed according to the distance of the destination. Clients are accepted to meet the extra cost, as stated above. Validate Authenticity of Educational Certificate

Required Documents

All requests for confirmation MUST be accompanied by copies of certificates.

• Results slips are also acceptable for all examinations except for the CPE & KCPE examinations.
• Where a copy of certificate or results slip is missing, the applicant MUST obtain an introduction letter from school and a certified copy of a results printout for the particular year from their former schools/colleges and County Directors or Sub-County Directors for private candidates and schools that have since closed.
• For modular courses (Business, Technical and SNE) all copies of results slips for all the modular courses must be attached to the application form for confirmation of results.
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Kenya National Examinations Council
Chief Executive Officer
P.O. Box: 73598 00200, Nairobi, Kenya.
Tel: +254 020 3317412 / 3317413 / 3317419 / 3317427 / 3341027 3341050 / 3341071 / 3341098 / 3341113 / 2213381
Fax: +254-020- 2226032
Email: info@knec.ac.ke
Website: Kenya National Examinations Council

National Bank Building,
Harambee Avenue
Tel: +254 – 020 246919 / 020-247204
Ex-telecoms House, 3rd floor
Haile Selassie Avenue,
Tel: +254 -020 2211545/6/7

Mitihani House
Dennis Pritt Road, Kilimani
Tel: +254 – 020 2713874 / 020-2713894 / 020-2713845; 020-2715980 / 020-2711536
Industrial Area Offices,
Ministry of Public Works, Supplies Branch,
Likoni Road.
Tel: +254 – 020 650821 / 020-650822
Email: info@knec.ac.ke

Eligibility

• Employers or institution seeking to confirm the authenticity of an applicant/ individuals KNEC certificates. Validate Authenticity of Educational Certificate

Fees

• Within Kenya total cost Ksh 2,320
• Outside Kenya cost Ksh 3,480
  
• Statements are normally dispatched through registered mail at no extra cost. However, those wishing to use courier services will be changed according to the distance of the destination. Clients are accepted to meet the extra cost. Those wishing to use fax will be charged an extra cost of :

(a) Fax within Kenta Ksh 928
(b) Fax outside Kenya Ksh 1,392

• Fees are be paid at KNEC Collection accounts in the following banks where KNEC deposit slips are available;

(a) National Bank of Kenya,
(b) Kenya Commercial Bank,
(c) Co-operative Bank of Kenya
(d) Equity Bank.

Validity

• The statements of examination results are strictly for use by the employer or an institution and cannot be given or copied to the candidate/parent/guardian or any other individual
• The statements of examination results is meant for use by the institution to which it is addressed to.
• Statements of examination results should not be re-routed from one organization to another Validate Authenticity of Educational Certificate
  

Documents to Use

1. Application documents are available at the KNEC offices.
2. Application for statement of examination results form sample

Processing Time

• It takes 10 working days to process and dispatch the statements. Old examinations may take longer.
• Statements are normally dispatched through registered mail at no extra cost. However, those wishing to use courier services will be changed according to the distance of the destination. Clients are accepted to meet the extra cost. Those wishing to use fax will be charged an extra cost of Ksh 928 within Kenya and Ksh 1,392 outside Kenya.

Instructions

1. Make an application for statement of examination results form addressed to the Council Secretary of the Kenya National Examinations Council, Stating the reason for validation and give the postal address of the institution or government office which requested for the equation.
2. Attach the following documents with your request.
   • Results slips are also acceptable for all examinations except for the CPE & KCPE examinations.
   • Where a copy of certificate or results slip is missing, the applicant MUST obtain an introduction letter from school and a certified copy of a results printout for the particular year from their former schools/colleges and County Directors or Sub-County Directors for private candidates and schools that have since closed.
   • For modular courses (Business, Technical and SNE) all copies of results slips for all the modular courses must be attached to the application form for confirmation of results.
3. Pay the application fees
4. Forward the deposits slip with the application for equation to the equations office, KNEC.
5. If you like the equated certificate to be faxed or e-mailed, you should provide the fax number/e-mail address
   

Required Information

1. Name of applicant
2. Physical and postal address
3. Cell phone number
4. Email
5. School/college/ examination
6. Full index number
7. Year of examination
8. Series (March/July/ November/December)
9. National ID/ Passport Number or birth certificate for those under 18 years
10. Reason for confirmation
11. Full address where statement of examination results is to be sent

Need for the Document

The document validates the authenticity of an individual’s certificates.

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Information which might help

1. KNEC does NOT accept cheques/money orders/postal orders.
2. Statements of Examination Results are strictly for use by the employer or an institution and therefore cannot be given or copied to the candidate/parent/guardian or any other individual (s). *Please note that a Statement of Examination Results is NOT a certificate.
3. Statements of Examination Results should not be re-routed from one organization to another.
4. All requests for confirmation MUST be accompanied by copies of certificates.
   • Results slips are also acceptable for all examinations except for the CPE & KCPE examinations.
   • Where a copy of certificate or results slip is missing, the applicant MUST obtain an introduction letter from school and a certified copy of a results printout for the particular year from their former schools/colleges and County Directors or Sub-County Directors for private candidates and schools that have since closed.
   • For modular courses (Business, Technical and SNE) all copies of results slips for all the modular courses must be attached to the application form for confirmation of results.
5. Deposit bank slips MUST be presented within twelve (12) months after deposit. Deposit bank slips presented twelve (12) months after banking will NOT BE ACCEPTED and there shall be NO REFUND.
6. Incomplete application forms will NOT be processed.
7. Applicants are advised not to make any payments before their applications are verified by KNEC.

External Links

• KNEC Download Hub KNEC Download Hub
  

Others

• Enquiries for further clarification may be sent to the Chief Executive Officer, Kenya National Examinations Council or through the [www.knec.ac.ke/ Kenya National Examinations Council Website]