Kenya is moving to strengthen the verification of academic qualifications used in recruitment and employment. The initiative brings together the Public Service Commission (PSC), Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Ministry of Education.
Head of Public Service and Chief of Staff Felix Koskei led the consultative meeting at State House, Nairobi, on September 16, 2026. The discussions focused on integrating systems used to authenticate and verify academic papers.
The move is aimed at creating a more coordinated process for checking academic credentials. It is also expected to strengthen public confidence in recruitment and help ensure that people appointed to positions of responsibility hold genuine qualifications.
PSC Chairperson Francis Meja said the systems need to be integrated and streamlined. He noted that this would help protect the integrity of recruitment processes while promoting professionalism and merit.
The initiative will also support efforts to confirm that academic credentials are genuine before they are relied on in employment decisions. This is particularly important in public service recruitment, where qualifications are used to determine suitability for various positions.
Meja said the process would promote competence across the Public Service and the wider workforce. The proposed coordination will therefore bring different institutions together instead of relying on separate verification processes.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba also attended the meeting. PSC Secretary and CEO Paul Famba was present as the institutions discussed the proposed approach.
KNEC was represented by Chairperson Prof Julius O. Nyabundi and Chief Executive Officer Dr David Njeng’ere. Their participation brings the examinations body into discussions on how academic credentials can be authenticated more effectively.
Principal Secretaries Dr Beatrice Inyangala, John Ololtuaa and Prof Jane Imbunya also attended the engagement. They represented Higher Education and Research, Basic Education, and Public Service and Human Capital Development respectively.
The discussions therefore place academic credentials verification at the centre of efforts to strengthen recruitment processes. By coordinating the systems of the relevant institutions, the government seeks to improve how qualifications are authenticated across the workforce.