Statement by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority on “Fake”
Kenya is transforming its education sector to enhance access, equity, relevance and
quality of education and training. The Country has realized several milestones towards
this goal including but not limited to establishing the Kenya National Qualifications
Authority (KNQA) that developed and is now implementing the Kenya National
Qualifications Framework (KNQF). KNQA is a body corporate mandated through the
KNQF Act No. 22 of 2014 to coordinate and harmonize the various levels of education
and training and to create a database of all qualifications conferred within the country.
This mandate is to be realized through accrediting examining and certifying education
institutions as Qualifications Awarding Institutions (QAIs) for both local and
international recognition and register the qualifications they award. Moreover, the
Authority is entrusted with the responsibility of ensuring that individuals aspiring to
pursue higher education or seek employment in Kenya have met the necessary
standards and certifications. This involves establishing a comprehensive data bank of
individuals whose certificates have been verified and aligned with the Kenyan National
Qualifications Framework (KNQF).
The aforementioned, coupled with the accreditation procedures for Qualifications
Awarding Institutions (QAIs) and the registration of National Qualifications, culminates
in the creation of a comprehensive database documenting Credible QAIs and their
National Qualifications conferred in Kenya. The consequential outcome of this endeavor
is the promotion and building of confidence in our education and training system, both
within the local context and on a broader scale within the regional and global
qualifications landscape.
Within the broader KNQF, there exist four sub-frameworks that include Basic
Education, TVET, University and the Skills pathways that cater to specific sector
domains, tailoring the qualification standards to meet the unique requirements of
distinct fields. These sub-frameworks are regulated and are designed to ensure
alignment with industry needs, academic rigor, and the evolving demands of the
workforce.
According to Section 28 (4) of The Universities Act, 2012, and subsequent amendments,
the Commission for University Education is entrusted with the responsibility of
upholding standards, quality, and relevance across various dimensions of university
education, training, and research. The Commission, which plays a crucial role in
maintaining standards in the realm of university education, has officially recognized
and accredited a total of seventy-nine (79) universities in Kenya as of August 2023.
The Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) is entrusted
with the mandate to regulate, coordinate, and ensure the provision of high-quality and
pertinent training within the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
sector. Furthermore, TVETA has compiled a comprehensive list of accredited TVET
colleges in Kenya.
Regulatory bodies play a crucial role by maintaining a comprehensive database of
accredited educational institutions authorized to deliver curricula. Conversely, the
Kenyan National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) identifies and recognizes credible
institutions responsible for awarding national qualifications.
There has been a noticeable rise in the prevalence of counterfeit qualifications,
encompassing both academic and professional certificates. The escalating numbers of
graduates holding credentials yet facing unemployment have contributed to the
proliferation of fraudulent activities in this regard. In conducting validation and
alignment of qualifications to the KNQF, the Authority has confirmed documented about
30% of academic papers are fraudulently or falsified or interfered with.
A fraudulent or falsified certificate is a credential obtained from an entity not formally
recognized as a Qualifications Awarding Institution. Such certificates typically fail to
meet the standards established by the Kenya National Qualifications Framework
(KNQF), including minimum entry requirements, progression pathways, duration of
study, credits, and KNQF level descriptors.
The issuance of fraudulently acquired certificates by education and training institutions
is inimical to the Qualifications Authority as it puts the lives of Kenyans and citizens of
other jurisdictions at high risk. Also, the proliferation of fraudulent credentials poses a
significant threat to the integrity of our higher education system, undermining its
credibility. Addressing this issue necessitates concerted efforts at both institutional and
national levels.
In significant strides, the Authority is actively working towards establishing and
maintaining a national database of national qualifications. This is in line with the
international commitments to develop an accurate, reliable and robust database of all
qualifications in the country that will allow for comparability and information sharing
in the education sector. This is imminent since the Country has lacked a central
national database of qualifications resulting into a fragmented qualifications sector.
With the database in place, fraudulent and falsified qualifications will become a thing
of the past since it will be a central repository of all our qualifications where one can
check and query easily.
KNQA therefore wishes to encourage all employers to engage the Authority in
determining the authenticity of qualifications held by both current and prospective
employees to ensure that only qualified persons are in correct positions.
In this regard, the Authority looks forward to continued solidarity and unity of purpose
as we build confidence of the Kenyan qualifications ecosystem.
Signed by: Dr Alice Kande
Ag. Director General , KNQA.
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