Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has issued a stern warning to principals who are still refusing to release national examination certificates to students because of school fee arrears, stressing that they risk losing their jobs.
Speaking in Nakuru on Thursday, May 15, the DP urged parents to report any "stubborn" head of an institution who refuses to release the certificate to the assistant chief for action to be taken.
"There are so many schools that have refused to release certificates to students who finished their national examinations. I want to warn that principals who continue defying government directives are risking their jobs," he said.
According to the DP, after a principal releases a certificate, the government will follow up and develop a mechanism to ensure that the fee balance is sorted.
"All heads of institutions must release certificates for all the children of Kenya, and then after that, we will sort out other fee-related issues. It is not a joke, I know the minister has already said, but I'm saying this as the deputy president because we are not requesting you, we are directing," he said.
"I'm speaking on behalf of the president and the government, please, principals, let us not play monkey games. I would like to tell parents to report any principal who refuses to issue these certificates to the assistant chief," he said.
According to the government, withholding certificates from students is unlawful, and a principal is at risk of facing legal repercussions.
Government spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, in a statement on Monday, April 14, said denying students the document undermines the country's education system.
"Denying any student access to their academic credentials undermines the very foundation of our education system and compromises the rights of the child. The government will not tolerate this continued impunity, and stern actions will be taken against schools that continue to defy this directive," he stated.
Speaking on Monday, March 17, the Education CS, Julius Ogamba, revealed the government's plan to ensure that students collect their certificates from sub-county education offices rather than their former schools.
Ogamba further announced a crackdown on heads of institutions withholding national examination certificates from students.
"The other day, I issued a directive that teachers holding certificates should release them to all the students, and I gave a deadline, and the deadline has already passed, so from next week, we will be taking action against teachers who are still withholding the certificates," he said.
