Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has assured that certificates issued by the Kenya Institute of Management (KIM) during its legally authorised period remain valid, as the government moves to clarify the status of qualifications awarded after 2018.
Appearing before the National Assembly, Ogamba said the government will safeguard individuals who obtained certificates while KIM was operating under legal order, even as compliance issues are addressed. “With respect to KIM itself and the certificates that the students got from 2018 and the period within which it was operating under legal order, those certificates are valid,” he stated, adding that a comprehensive statement will be issued within two days to provide clarity.
The CS emphasised that the government is reviewing the matter to ensure that no qualified individuals are disenfranchised in employment or public service as a result of regulatory concerns. His remarks come amid growing anxiety over certificates issued by KIM following a regulatory position that the institution lacked the mandate to award academic qualifications after 2018.
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Members of Parliament pressed the Ministry for safeguards to protect students and demanded clarity on how the situation would be resolved without disadvantaging those already enrolled or those who had completed their studies. Ogamba reiterated that the government’s focus is to protect those who qualified during the institution’s legally authorised period while strengthening compliance within the technical and vocational education system, which was established under legislation passed in 2013 and implemented in 2015.
He further indicated that the issue will be handled on a case‑by‑case basis, particularly for private institutions under the TVET framework, as the government moves to reinforce compliance and standards in the sector. “The appeal that we will be dealing with is an appeal with respect to compliance going forward. We have already seized it, and within the next two days, we will issue a comprehensive statement to ensure that no person qualified under KIM with a certificate, or employed in the public service through certification from KIM, is disenfranchised,” Ogamba said.
However, the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) has maintained that certificates issued beyond the legally authorised period are not recognised for employment, further education, or professional advancement.
By Masaki Enock
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