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Kenya National Qualifications Authority names new director-general

Alice Wairimu Kande addresses her colleagues at the offices of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) in Nairobi on April 22, 2024, following her appointment as director-general. (Photo: Handout)

By Amina Bonaya | Monday, April 22, 2024

Alice Wairimu Kande has succeeded Juma Mukhwana, who is now the principal secretary in the State Department for Industry.

Alice Wairimu Kande has been appointed the new director-general of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) for five years, following a recruitment process that began last year.

The KNQA advertised the position on November 28, 2023, and received 36 applications. It shortlisted 12 candidates who were interviewed between February 27 and 28, 2024.

Kande, whose appointment was announced on April 22, had been serving as acting director-general since December 7, 2022, following the exit of Juma Mukhwana, who is now the principal secretary in the State Department for Industry.

She has a bachelor's degree in business administration (strategic management) from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUA) and a bachelor's in education and a master's in business administration, both from Kenyatta University (KU).

Announcing the appointment on Monday, KNQA Chairperson Stanley Kiptis said the council selected Kande "following deliberations and careful consideration."

Alice Wairimu Kande cuts a cake at the offices of the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA) in Nairobi, in a celebration to mark her appointment as director-general. (Photo: Handout)

Kiptis hailed Kande for her contribution to the development of national policies, including the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Policy, the Kenya Credit Accumulation and Transfer System (KCATS), and the Registration and Accreditation Framework.

"We have confidence in her leadership and hope she will steer the organisation well. She has delivered for the period she has served as acting director-general."

Kande previously served as the deputy director in charge of planning, research, outreach, and policy at the KNQA.

The Ministry of Education established the authority in 2015, mandating it to evaluate and validate qualifications within and outside the country.

Kande's appointment came amid the government's efforts to strengthen audits and rid the public service of hires with fake academic and professional certificates.

In June 2021, KNQA's former director-general told a parliamentary committee that 30 per cent of public service workers used fake certificates to secure jobs, equivalent to about 250,000 people in active employment.

Thus far, President William Ruto has directed both the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to pursue 2,100 civil servants with fraudulent certificates, whom he said should refund the public funds and quit or face prosecution.

He issued the instruction during the 3rd National Wage Bill Conference 2024 that took place at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi on April 15–17.

During the launch of the RPL at the KICC in Nairobi on March 22, 2024, Kande promised to work with all stakeholders to realise the KNQA's mandate.