How to Get a KNEC Certificate Replacement, E-Certificate or Certification Letter

Updated 22 October 2026

Losing a KCSE or KCPE certificate used to mean a long paper process. Today the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) offers two online routes. The first is the new KNEC E-Certificate platform, which lets you download a digital copy of your certificate after verifying your identity. The second is the older certification of examination results letter, applied for through KNEC’s Query Management Information System (QMIS), which is the formal substitute for a lost or destroyed certificate. This guide explains both, what each costs, the documents you need and which one fits your situation.

In this guide

1. Your Options at a Glance
2. Option 1: The KNEC E-Certificate Platform
3. Option 2: The Certification of Results Letter
4. What About a Lost Result Slip?
5. Which Option Should You Choose?
6. Frequently Asked Questions

Your Options at a Glance

Option	Best for	Where	Fee
KNEC E-Certificate	A fast digital copy of a KCSE or KCPE certificate from 1989 onwards	E-Certificate link on knec.ac.ke	KSh1,200 plus VAT and eCitizen charges
Certification of examination results letter	A formal KNEC letter replacing a certificate you have proved is lost or destroyed	qmis.knec.ac.ke	KSh5,220 per letter, VAT inclusive, under KNEC’s published guidelines
Confirmation of results	An employer, university or agency checking results	QMIS or the E-Certificate verifier service	Set by KNEC per request

KNEC sets and can review these fees. Pay only the amount the system generates for you.

Option 1: The KNEC E-Certificate Platform

KNEC’s E-Certificate user guide, version 2.0 dated June 2026, describes a self service portal that holds digital copies of KCSE and KCPE certificates for exam years from 1989 to the present. Each certificate carries a blockchain verification hash so that an employer or institution can confirm it has not been altered.

How to Register

1. Go to knec.ac.ke and click E-Certificate, then choose Sign Up.
2. Select Applicant (Student or Alumni) as the account type.
3. Enter your full name and email address and click Send OTP. Type the six digit code sent to your email. Codes expire after 10 minutes, so request a new one if yours runs out.
4. Later logins use your email and a fresh one time code, so no password is needed.

How to Fill Your Profile

Open Fill or Update Profile and enter your citizenship, your full name exactly as it appears on your National ID, your date of birth, email and phone number. Kenyan citizens must enter their ID number. The system then checks your details against the Integrated Population Registration System (IPRS), usually within seconds. If this check fails, compare the spelling and date of birth with your ID card, because even a small mismatch blocks you.

How to Generate the Certificate

1. Click Generate E-Certificate. Your name, ID and phone are filled in from your profile.
2. Enter your examination index number, not your ID number, then pick the exam type (KCSE or KCPE) and the year.
3. The system runs an identity check and looks up a certificate that matches the index number, exam and year. Both must pass.
4. Click Proceed to Pay. You can pay by M-Pesa, which sends a prompt to your phone, or by any other method eCitizen offers, including cards.
5. Once payment is confirmed, click Download Certificate to open the PDF.

A generated certificate stays downloadable from your My Certificates list for six months. After that the download button is disabled and you would have to pay again for a fresh copy, so save the PDF somewhere safe as soon as you get it. If you paid but the order still says Pending Payment, use the Already paid? Check status now option on that row, which asks eCitizen for the latest payment status.

Sending Proof to an Employer

The same dashboard has a Send verification report option. You upload your e-certificate, confirm your identity, enter the employer or institution’s officer details and pay through eCitizen. The report is then delivered to them directly, which is often what recruiters actually want.

Option 2: The Certification of Results Letter

KNEC began issuing certification of examination results letters in February 2018 to candidates who lost or damaged their certificates. You apply online through QMIS, and you must prove the certificate is lost or destroyed before KNEC will process the letter.

Documents Required

• A copy of the certificate or result slip, where you have one.
• A police abstract showing you reported the loss.
• A copy of your National ID or passport. Applicants under 18 use a birth certificate plus a parent’s or guardian’s ID.
• Confirmation of your identity from the Registrar of Persons.
• One colour passport size photograph.

How the QMIS Application Works

1. Open qmis.knec.ac.ke and sign in with a KNEC QMS account, or continue with eCitizen. New users can register on the same page. If you need to, log in to eCitizen first.
2. Launch a new query and choose the confirmation or certification type.
3. Enter your index number, then select the exam, year and series. The system pulls up the candidate’s name.
4. Enter the recipient details, then attach each required document one at a time.
5. Submit. Once KNEC verifies your documents, the system sends you a paybill and account number with the amount to pay by M-Pesa.

KNEC’s guidelines say processing takes 15 working days after all requirements are fulfilled, and that a certification letter, once issued, cannot be replaced. Keep it with your most important papers.

What About a Lost Result Slip?

Result slips are issued through schools and examination centres, and KNEC’s guidelines accept a result slip as supporting evidence for most examinations. If you have lost a recent slip, ask your former school, which can access its results through KNEC’s school portals described in our KNEC portal login guide. For current candidates, our guide on how to check KNEC results online explains what you can see online once results are out.

Which Option Should You Choose?

• If you need a copy quickly for a job or university application and you sat KCSE or KCPE in 1989 or later, start with the E-Certificate.
• If an institution insists on a formal KNEC document replacing a lost certificate, or your record cannot be found on the E-Certificate system, apply for the certification letter through QMIS.
• If an employer wants to check your results, send them a verification report rather than a scan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can KNEC reprint my original certificate?

KNEC replaces lost certificates with a certification of examination results letter, or you can download a digital e-certificate. Neither is a reprint of the original paper.

How much is the KNEC e-certificate?

The user guide sets the generation fee at KSh1,200 plus VAT and eCitizen charges.

Do I need a police abstract for the e-certificate?

The E-Certificate guide does not list one. It relies on IPRS identity checks. A police abstract is required for the QMIS certification letter.

Which exams does the e-certificate cover?

KCSE and KCPE, for exam years from 1989 onwards.

How long does a certification letter take?

About 15 working days after KNEC confirms all your documents are complete.