NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 12 – The Human Resource Management Professionals Examinations Board (HRMPEB) has launched the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework for HR practitioners, making Kenya the first country in Africa where a professional body has formally operationalized such a program.
The RPL framework gives certification opportunities to HR professionals who have gained skills through work experience, mentorship, and informal training but lacked formal academic qualifications. For decades, many practitioners have been locked out of professional certification and career advancement due to these barriers.
HRMPEB Chairperson Sharon Kisire said the rollout was a significant step toward inclusivity and equity in Kenya’s labour market. She noted that the framework recognizes that skills acquired on the job and through lived practice carry equal weight to those taught in lecture halls.
CEO Margaret Nguu described the initiative as a turning point in HR certification, saying it validates the contributions of professionals who have long remained “invisible” to formal systems. He said the move not only strengthens HR practice but also aligns with Kenya’s Vision 2030 and Africa’s Agenda 2063 by broadening access to certification and recognition.
The framework will be rolled out across all 47 counties, giving HR practitioners a pathway to formal recognition regardless of how or where they acquired their skills. HRMPEB expects the Kenyan model to inspire similar initiatives across Africa and in other professional sectors.
