KNEC: HOW TO RECOVER LOST KCPE OR KCSE CERTIFICATES

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has officially automated the process of applying for certification letters for lost certificates, a move aimed at saving Kenyans the agony of physical queues and endless bureaucratic delays. 

The new system, accessible via the Qualifications Management Information System (QMIS) at allows candidates who have lost their original certificates to apply for a certification letter entirely online, from account registration to final collection notification.

Away from the past, where candidates were forced to make repeated trips to KNEC offices in Nairobi, the council has now declared that clients no longer need to visit physically unless they are collecting documents generated after their queries have been resolved. The entire application process for a lost certificate has been broken down into ten clear steps, beginning with registering an account on the QMIS platform. 

Once registered, applicants log in using credentials sent to their email, select the “Lost Certificate” option from the menu, and fill in their index number, type of exam, and year of examination before clicking the find button to retrieve their records.

However, KNEC has made it clear that the online application will only be considered complete after the applicant uploads five mandatory documents. These include a copy of the lost certificate or result slip, both sides of the applicant’s national identification card, a passport-size photo, a police abstract, and a confirmation from the registrar of persons consisting of three pages specifically a confirmation letter, a fingerprint page, and the back page containing personal details. 

For applicants in Nairobi, this confirmation can be obtained at the NSSF Building on the 7th floor in Upperhill, while those outside the capital can visit their sub-county registrar of persons offices.

After submitting the application, candidates are required to wait for a verification process, after which they will receive an email notification to log back in and make a payment of Ksh 5,220. Once payment is processed, KNEC will begin processing the application, and candidates are advised to keep checking the system for status updates. 

When the process is complete, another email notification will be sent informing the applicant to collect the certification letter from the KNEC offices.