Two former students have successfully obtained their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificates after the intervention of the Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ), also known as the Office of the Ombudsman.

Confirming the intervention in a statement on their X handle on Friday, June 12, 2026, the Commission revealed that Kisumazi Secondary School released the KCSE certificate of a former student following an investigation into a complaint she lodged on April 10, 2026.

“Kisumazi Secondary School released the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) certificate of a former student following the intervention of the Commission,” the commission stated.

The commission has further noted that according to the complaint, she had sat her KCSE examinations but was unable to access her certificate despite making repeated follow-ups since 2023. She argued that the continued withholding of the document was contrary to Ministry of Education directives and had denied her employment and academic opportunities.

The Ombudsman took up the matter with the school’s principal on April 24, 2026. In a response dated May 19, 2026, the principal stated that the certificate had not been withheld and was available for collection. The school provided a photograph of the certificate as evidence and advised the former student to pick it up.

The Commission relayed the response to the complainant, who subsequently collected her certificate, bringing the matter to a close.

Separate inquiry

In a separate case, St Mary’s Boys High School, Ushangonyi, released the KCSE certificate of another former student after intervention by the Commission.

“In a similar case, St Mary’s Boys High School, Ushangonyi, released the KCSE certificate of a former student, following the commission’s intervention,” the commission added.

The commission has noted that the complainant filed a complaint on March 16, 2026, alleging that the school had unlawfully withheld his certificate despite completing his studies in 2024 and clearing all school fees.

He claimed that school officials had demanded Ksh6,400 for alleged textbook losses and equipment damage, even though the principal had approved the release of the certificate and a laboratory technician had confirmed he had no pending obligations.

The complainant further argued that the school’s actions violated the Ministry of Education’s March 2025 directive requiring the unconditional release of certificates and had disrupted his university admission process.

The Commission engaged the school on April 17, 2026, and later issued a reminder on May 14, 2026. Following the intervention, the individual confirmed that he had received his KCSE certificate on May 15, 2026, and expressed gratitude to the Commission for helping resolve the matter.

The Office of the Ombudsman said the cases underscore the importance of adhering to government directives on the release of academic certificates and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting citizens from administrative injustices.