Did you lose your KCSE certificate? Wondering whether it is possible to replace it? You have come to the right place. While it used to be a requirement to visit KNEC offices to do this, they have now simplified it.
You can easily replace your KCSE certificate by applying for a replacement from the KNEC website.
Sounds easy, right? Not really. However, this post will guide you towards getting a replacement for your KCSE or KCPE certificate.
To sum it up in a checklist, here is the procedure to replace your KCSE certificate in Kenya
1. Obtain a police abstract
2. Obtain a letter from registrar of persons (NSSF).
3. Open www.knec.ac.ke, then click the link ‘lost certificate’.
4. Upload scanned copy of KCSE certificate or existing result slip
5. Upload National ID, passport photo, letter from registrar of persons and police abstract.
6. Pay the required fee of Kes. 5,800.
7. Submit and await for the call to collect your original certificate.
Changes in the procedure for the replacement of KCSE certificate
If you have noticed, there are a few things I have not included in the list above.
That is because they are no longer required for the replacement of a lost KCSE certificate. These include a recommendation letter from your employer, a recommendation letter from your school principal or SCDE, and an affidavit.
The whole process has now been streamlined, but there is a catch. You see, the new requirement called the letter from the registrar of persons.
That is the new entry, but I will show you how easy it is to get. If you are within Nairobi(I think it is better to do this in the capital), the letter from the registrar of persons requires biometrics taken.
At the CBD, the nearest station that does exactly that is the Chief’s office at Kariokor near Eastleigh, Nairobi. The biometrics will then have to be submitted in person at the registrar of person offices, which is at the NSSF building.
Now there is a waiting period here, as they verify your identity. The period could take anything between 2 – 4 weeks.
Once this letter is ready, you can now begin the process to replace your certificate online, which I have shown you above. All the required documents should be scanned and available in soft format.
If you are not comfortable doing this on your own, visit your nearest cyber cafe and have the attendant help you. They will scan each individual document, and then combine them into a single PDF file for upload.
How much does it cost to replace a lost KCSE certificate?
KNEC charges Kshs 7,800 in total as a service fee to facilitate the replacement of lost KCSE certificates.
Other charges
The chief’s office charges Kshs 300 to capture your biometrics. You are issued with a receipt, so this is not some shady backdoor stuff.
With an assumed rate of Kshs 20 for each page scanned, the total charges for scanning will be about Kshs. 120. If you have to take a new passport photo, that will set you back between Kshs 50 – 100 per photo.
To summarize the total cost, if you are going to need every requirement above(passport photo included), that brings the total to between Kshs 470 – 520. Adding the mandatory fee of Kshs 7,800, and factoring in transport here and there, this amount can easily go north of Kshs 9K in total.
Do I need to go to KNEC offices to replace my KCSE certificate?
No. You can now replace your KCSE/KCPE birth certificate online. You will only be required to collect the certificate in person.
How long does it take to replace KCSE or KCSE certificate in Kenya?
Factoring in the new requirement of a confirmation letter from the registrar of persons, it now takes anywhere between 30 and 60 days.
Will I be able to download my KCSE certificate online?
No. For obvious reasons, the Kenya National Examinations Council certificate can only be collected from KNEC offices in person.
The only thing you can download online is your results slip for either KCPE or KCSE. KNEC will never send your certificate via email or a download link.
Why you should always have original KCSE and KCPE certificates with you:
- During job application, It increases your chances of being considered.
- When applying for government jobs, it is a mandatory requirement.
- Some institutions of higher education may require only original certificates for verification as well.
If applying for a student visa or resident visa in some Western countries, original academic certificates make up the required supporting documents checklist.
Beware of cons!
Since a lot of people lose their original certificates, there are individuals who prey on such Kenyans. These con artists will promise to process your original certificate within a week for a small fee.
Kindly note that this is not possible, as every replacement process requires your input, all the way to certificate collection. Fair enough, desperate times will call for desperate measures but do not fall for these shortcuts.
They do not work, and you will be left broke, frustrated, and with no progress made to get your original academic certificate.
Where is the KCSE certificate number located?
For those applying using the TSC portal, you are mostly asked to enter your certificate number. If you are applying for a TSC number for example, or the recently concluded profile update, the KCSE certificate number is located at the bottom of your certificate. It usually starts with KCSE/XXXXXXX.
There are no specific guidelines as to whether you should include the KCSE abbreviation or just plain numbers. What I like to do is enter as it is.
What we covered
I hope this guide was able to help you know the process of replacing lost Kcse certificates. Looking to replace the KCSE cert instead? The process is just the same. One last thing you should however take note of is for cases where you can only present the results slip.
If you no longer have a copy of your KCSE certificate but can provide a results slip, kindly note that only results slips from 2013 and later can be used to replace a KCSE certificate. Bookmark our site for future visits. I have been Danny, and you’ve been awesome. Thank you and good luck.