KNEC Warns Against Fake KCSE and TVET Grade Upgrades.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has uncovered a fraudulent scheme in which Kenyans are being asked to pay for the alteration of their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results.
On Tuesday, February 4, KNEC flagged a misleading social media post that urged parents and other individuals to apply for the upgrading of grades and the processing of KCSE certificates.
The fraudulent activity has primarily targeted those who sat for their exams between 2000 and 2024, enticing them to pay for changes to their results.
A reverse search by Kenyans.co.ke traced the post back to Facebook, where it was found under an account that falsely uses the KNEC logo as its profile picture. The account’s bio falsely claims to provide result adjustments from KCSE to university entry, despite such actions being illegal.
The scammers extended their fraudulent operations to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, inviting those who sat for exams between 2010 and 2024 to apply for grade modifications.
According to their post, which has since been flagged, the con artists claimed that information from the mentioned years had been made available in the KNEC database, allowing for upgrades.
KNEC Issues a Stern Warning
Responding to the scam, KNEC warned Kenyans to be cautious and avoid falling victim to fraud. The council emphasized the increasing prevalence of such scams, particularly following the government’s announcement that the last KCSE test under the current system will be conducted in 2027.
KNEC clarified that KCSE result slips are officially dispatched to Sub-County Directors of Education, who then facilitate their collection by school heads within a month of the results’ release.
The 2024 KCSE results, announced on January 9, followed this process, with the official certificates expected to be distributed later this year. Normally, it takes approximately eight months after examinations for certificates to be made available.
Mid-Year KCSE Exams Face Legal Challenge
In the most recent KCSE examination, 965,501 candidates participated, with 246,391 students securing a mean grade of C+ and above, thus qualifying for university admission—the highest number in eight years.
To accommodate candidates effectively, Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba announced plans for a mid-year KCSE exam, scheduled to take place every July until 2027. However, this initiative has encountered legal obstacles.
A court in Kisii suspended the mid-year exams until a case challenging their validity is resolved. The ruling halted the registration process and practical examinations, which were initially set to begin late last month.
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Despite this setback, the government remains committed to implementing the mid-year exams. The Education Ministry announced its intention to appeal the court’s ruling, with Ogamba stating that government lawyers are reviewing the legal grounds of the conservatory order before issuing a response.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that the mid-year exams proceed for the benefit of students. Our legal team is currently assessing the ruling so that we can respond appropriately,” Ogamba explained.
KNEC Warns Against Fake KCSE and TVET Grade Upgrades.
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