NAIROBI, Kenya- The government has begun consultations aimed at streamlining the authentication of academic credentials presented by job applicants to recruiters and prospective employers.
Head of Public Service Felix Koskei said the initiative is intended to protect the integrity of recruitment processes and promote professionalism and competence across the public and private sectors.
Koskei spoke after chairing a consultative meeting bringing together senior officials from the education and public service sectors.
“This afternoon, we held a consultative meeting to streamline the authentication of academic credentials by recruiters and prospective employers,” Koskei said.
He said the government was working to ensure that recruitment processes are based on genuine and verifiable academic qualifications.
“The Government is working to protect the integrity of recruitment processes and promote professionalism and competence across the Public Service and the wider workforce,” he added.
The meeting brought together officials from the Ministry of Education, the Public Service Commission and the Kenya National Examinations Council.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba attended alongside Higher Education and Research Principal Secretary Beatrice Inyangala and Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa.
Public Service and Human Capital Development Principal Secretary Jane Imbunya was also present.
The Public Service Commission was represented by Chairperson Francis Meja and Chief Executive Officer Paul Famba.
KNEC Chairperson Julius Nyabundi and Chief Executive Officer David Njeng’ere also participated in the discussions.
The involvement of the three institutions places the Ministry of Education, KNEC and PSC at the centre of efforts to improve the verification of certificates and other academic records used during recruitment.
KNEC administers national examinations and issues certificates, while the PSC oversees recruitment and human resource management within the public service.
The government did not immediately provide details about the proposed verification system, how employers would access it or when it would become operational.
