The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), has rolled out a new digital system that allows academic certificates to be verified instantly, in an effort to curb the use of fake papers in education and government offices.

The platform, which is being piloted in collaboration with the Public Service Commission, is expected to support fair hiring by ensuring that only valid documents are accepted.

“This platform will help us confirm who holds genuine papers,” said Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok.

Bitok explained that the platform is not only fast but also reliable.

“It provides a fast and secure way to authenticate certificates issued by KNEC,” he noted.

The PS added that the tool will improve recruitment by making document verification simple and transparent.

“This innovation will enhance transparency and credibility in recruitment processes. It will ensure that only genuine qualifications are recognised,” Bitok said.

The system is designed to replace manual checks and cut down on the need for people to visit KNEC offices physically.

Its launch follows a government audit carried out in June 2025 that exposed widespread problems in document verification among public servants.

The review covered 168,667 officers and revealed that 859 had fake academic papers, 160 had forged professional qualifications, and over 24,500 held documents that had not been confirmed as genuine.

The report also found that the majority 84.9 percent had never had their certificates verified.

“In regard to high standards of professional ethics, findings revealed critical gaps in both compliance and enforcement,” the report stated.

In response, KNEC has tightened its rules on how foreign academic certificates are handled. From April, all applications for recognition must be submitted through the council’s Query Management Information System (QMIS).

Only qualifications from accredited institutions are accepted, and the applicants must meet the same academic entry criteria used in Kenya.

At the same event, KNEC also launched the Education Assessment Resource Centre located at its headquarters in South C.

The facility is expected to support the ongoing rollout of competency-based education.

According to PS Bitok, the centre will help train professionals involved in testing and evaluation.

“It is designed to strengthen national capacity in educational assessment, psychometrics and competency-based evaluation,” he said.

The centre will train teachers, examiners, researchers, and education officers from Kenya and across the East African region.

Training will be offered both online and in person throughout the year and will focus on test development, data analysis, quality assurance, and the use of digital tools in testing.

KNEC CEO David Njeng’ere said the initiative changes how training has traditionally been done.

“This is a major shift from previous arrangements where only selected examiners were trained,” he said.

PS Bitok noted that the first group of professionals has already been admitted, and the centre is being supported by the government together with partners like UK International Development.

“We are building a future where honesty and ability matter,” he said.