NAIROBI, Kenya – The government has launched a multi-agency task force to oversee the creation of a new, integrated digital registry for all learners in Kenya, from early childhood to university level.
The Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), which will replace the current National Education Management Information System (NEMIS), aims to centralise and streamline education data management, the Ministry of Education announced on Thursday.
Speaking during the unveiling, Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok said piloting of KEMIS will begin in July, with full rollout expected by September 2025.
“The rollout of KEMIS marks a critical milestone in ensuring data-driven decision-making becomes the cornerstone of education planning and service delivery in Kenya,” said Prof. Bitok.
The 15-member team comprises officials from the Ministry of Education, technology experts, development partners, state agencies, and other stakeholders.
It will be tasked with implementing the platform and consolidating existing fragmented registers, including those for ECDE, basic education, TVET institutions, and universities.
KEMIS is designed to address long-standing challenges in NEMIS, such as data inaccuracy and manipulation of capitation figures through ghost schools and inflated student numbers.
“By consolidating all learner data into one platform, the system will enhance accuracy, transparency, and accessibility,” said Prof. Bitok. “It will ensure the government has the right statistics to inform the distribution of teachers, capitation, books and other resources.”
In addition to institutional data, KEMIS will hold comprehensive records on students and teachers and will be integrated with Civil Registration Services and the National Registration Bureau.
Each learner will be assigned a Unique Personal Identifier (UPI) at birth, which will serve as a lifelong educational ID.
“The UPI will be issued at birth and used across the education journey. In the event of death, it will become the number on the death certificate,” said Immigration and Citizen Services PS Dr. Belio Kipsang. “This is part of the broader Maisha digital ID ecosystem.”
Members of Parliament, led by National Assembly Education Committee Chair Julius Melly, backed the initiative and pledged legislative support to embed KEMIS in law.
“Accurate data is the foundation of sound budgeting. We will support legislation to ensure this system is fully anchored,” Melly said.
The launch comes amid mounting concerns over budget cuts in the education sector.
Lawmakers including Mary Emaase (Teso South), Phyllis Bartoo (Moiben), and Joseph Makilap (Baringo North) voiced concern that critical programmes like national exams and KEMIS had received no funding in the National Treasury’s recent budget estimates.
ICT Principal Secretary Eng. John Tanui also attended the launch.
He said his ministry, through Konza Technopolis, will support KEMIS infrastructure deployment.
Teachers’ unions, led by KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu, welcomed the initiative, citing its potential to improve transparency and efficiency in resource allocation.
KEMIS is expected to enable real-time tracking of enrolment, transitions, and education outcomes, while upholding data security and privacy.
