New bill proposes national database to track university and college qualifications

The government has proposed a national database to track qualifications awarded by universities, colleges and other qualification-awarding institutions. The measure appears in the Kenya National Qualifications Framework (Amendment) Bill, 2026.

The proposed database would be established, maintained, updated and publicised by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority. It would contain details of national qualifications awarded by institutions.

The database would also include foreign qualifications that have been harmonised and recognised in Kenya. “The Authority shall establish, maintain, update and publicize a database of national qualifications. The Authority shall include foreign qualifications that have been harmonized and recognized in the database maintained under subsection (1),” the bill states.

Under the proposed changes, institutions would have to notify the Authority of national qualifications they award within 90 days of issuing the qualification. The bill also proposes to make the National Qualifications Framework binding on all qualification-awarding institutions.

The Authority would be required to provide government agencies and other stakeholders access to information in the national qualifications database. Access would be subject to the Data Protection Act and the Access to Information Act.

“The Authority shall enable access to the information in the database maintained under section 18C by Government agencies and stakeholders in accordance with the Data Protection Act and the Access to Information Act,” the bill reads.

The proposed law would bar an institution from awarding a national qualification unless it is registered under the Act to award that qualification. An institution that contravenes the provision would commit an offence and, upon conviction, could face imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to KSh500,000, or both.

The bill further provides that an institution may award national qualifications if it is recognised or accredited under the Act, or if it is a university accredited under the Universities Act.

The proposed database forms part of wider amendments to the Kenya National Qualifications Framework Act. Clause 7 of the bill proposes amending Section 29 of the Act to provide for regulations on the registration of qualification-awarding institutions, the establishment of the National Qualifications Framework, and the creation of the national qualifications database.

Clause 8 proposes to repeal and replace Section 30 of the Act, which contains a transitional provision relating to examining bodies that existed before the Act came into force. The bill also proposes a consequential amendment to repeal Section 68 of the Basic Education Act.

That existing provision requires the Cabinet Secretary, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to develop the framework covering standards and benchmarks for qualifications and competencies, qualification levels, recognition of competencies, credit transfers and exemptions.

The Kenya National Qualifications Authority coordinates and supervises national qualifications policies. It develops an accreditation system and establishes systems for assessing national qualifications.

Its functions include maintaining a national database of qualifications, publishing manuals and guidelines, setting standards and benchmarks, defining qualification levels, and providing for the recognition of skills, knowledge, attitudes and values.

The Authority is also mandated to facilitate credit transfers and exemptions. It establishes standards for the harmonisation and recognition of national and foreign qualifications and promotes the international recognition of national qualifications.

The bill seeks to strengthen the tracking and verification of awards issued by local institutions. It places clearer obligations on those institutions to report qualifications promptly and to operate only within their registered scope.

Government agencies would gain structured access to the database for verification purposes while remaining bound by existing data protection and information access laws. The measures form part of ongoing efforts to regulate the qualifications landscape more tightly.