The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has issued a warning to the public regarding false information circulating online about how to check the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results. A fraudulent post has misled candidates, parents, and guardians by claiming that KCSE results can be accessed via SMS by sending exam details to the number 20076, with standard SMS charges applying.
Misleading Information
The deceptive post also urged candidates to call supposed toll-free lines for assistance and falsely declared that examination result slips would only be available at the centers where candidates sat for their exams. These claims have been refuted by KNEC.
KNEC clarified that no SMS service is available for checking the 2024 KCSE results. The council emphasized that all candidates and parents must access the results exclusively through KNEC’s official portal at results.knec.ac.ke.
No SMS Option Announced by Education CS
During the release of the 2024 KCSE results on Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba reiterated that results could only be accessed online via the KNEC portal. Unlike previous years, the SMS service was eliminated in an effort to improve efficiency.
This change follows issues experienced during the 2023 KCSE results release when delays and technical glitches marred the SMS service. The then Education CS Ezekiel Machogu had stated that engineers were working to ensure a seamless process via the online portal.
Challenges with the Online System
Despite efforts to streamline access, the KNEC portal faced significant challenges after the release of the 2024 KCSE results. The system experienced an overload as over 300,000 users attempted to access the site simultaneously. This caused delays and left many candidates and parents unable to retrieve their results immediately.
In a statement addressing the delays, KNEC assured users that the issue was being resolved and urged patience:
“The minor delays in receiving feedback are due to the high number of requests being sent to the portal, of up to 300,000 hits per second. We urge Kenyans to be patient and assure them that everyone will be able to access their results.”
Impact of SMS System Removal
The removal of the SMS system has left many candidates and parents stranded, as they were accustomed to receiving results via text messages. This gap has made some individuals more susceptible to falling for false information spread by unscrupulous actors.
KNEC has urged all stakeholders to verify any information regarding KCSE results through its official channels to avoid being misled by fraudulent claims.
How to Access 2024 KCSE Results
To access KCSE results online, candidates must:
- Visit the KNEC results portal at results.knec.ac.ke.
- Enter their exam registration details as required.
- View and download their results directly from the portal.
KNEC’s Assurance
KNEC has assured candidates and parents that despite the temporary delays, all results will be accessible. The council continues to work on improving the reliability of its systems to accommodate high traffic volumes in the future.
Candidates are reminded to rely solely on information from KNEC’s official website or announcements from the Ministry of Education to avoid falling victim to misinformation.
