NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya National Examinations Council has unveiled a new digital certificate verification system aimed at curbing widespread forgery of academic credentials and restoring confidence in Kenya’s examination system.
The platform, known as TrueCert, introduces QR code-based authentication for certificates issued from 2024 onwards, enabling employers, universities, and institutions to instantly verify academic records using smartphones.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Njengere said the initiative forms part of broader reforms intended to strengthen examination integrity and modernise credential verification.
“This innovation is part of our efforts to secure the integrity of certificates in Kenya,” Njengere said during the 3rd Annual Education Assessment Symposium 2026.
According to KNEC officials, the system replaces slow manual verification processes that previously required employers and institutions to physically contact KNEC offices, a process that often took weeks. The new platform is expected to reduce verification timelines to less than 30 minutes.
Under the system, each certificate contains an encrypted QR code carrying candidate details such as names, index numbers, and grades.
Once scanned, the information is cross-checked against KNEC’s central database, generating a green signal for authentic documents or a red alert where inconsistencies are detected.
KNEC’s ICT officials said the previous reliance on physical security features such as seals and watermarks had become increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated forgery techniques.
The rollout comes amid growing concern over fake academic papers in both public and private sectors, with authorities describing certificate fraud as having reached “epidemic levels.”
Kenya has in recent years witnessed multiple investigations and prosecutions involving forged academic credentials, particularly within public service recruitment.
The Public Service Commission has also announced reforms to integrate digital authentication systems with KNEC and the Commission for University Education to combat fraud in government hiring.
The examinations council said older certificates issued before 2023 will also be incorporated into the digital ecosystem through an online verification platform, allowing holders to generate secure electronic certificates after identity confirmation and payment through government systems.
Education officials argue the shift marks a transition from a trust-based verification model to a technology-driven system capable of enhancing transparency, reducing bureaucracy, and improving efficiency.
The reforms are also expected to support broader digitisation efforts within Kenya’s education sector, including electronic certificate issuance and online candidate registration systems.
If fully implemented, the system could significantly reduce opportunities for fraud while strengthening trust in Kenyan academic qualifications both locally and internationally.
