HRMPEB Records Historic Growth as Over 1,100 Professionals Earn HR Certification.
By Peace Muthoka.
Nairobi, October 24, 2025 — Kenya’s human resource profession reached a new milestone today as the Human Resource Management Professionals Examination Board (HRMPEB) certified a record 1,130 practitioners as Certified Human Resource Professionals (CHRPs) during its 6th Certification Ceremony held at Jamhuri Park, Ngong Road.
The colorful ceremony was graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Human Capital Development, and Special Programmes, Hon. Geoffrey Ruku, who celebrated what has become the largest certification event in HRMPEB’s history — a powerful sign of the profession’s growing recognition and its vital role in driving national development.
The milestone represents a sharp rise from 708 certifications in 2024, bringing the total number of certified HR professionals in Kenya to 4,843. Officials attributed this growth to HRMPEB’s wide-ranging reforms aimed at making professional training more flexible and accessible.
“This ceremony is special it’s the largest in our history, with 1,130 CHRP finalists officially gazetted and certified,” said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Human Resource Management Professionals Examinations Board (HRMPEB) Margaret Nguu “Our numbers keep growing, our profession is thriving, and soon, no one will practice HR without certification.”
The 2025 cohort reflects a strong commitment to inclusion, with 875 women (77.4%), 255 men (22.6%), and two differently abled finalists earning their certification. The diverse group included candidates from both private and public institutions, spanning multiple curricula and examination series evidence of HRMPEB’s adaptability in serving Kenya’s evolving workforce.
The Chief Guest commended the Board and the Institute of Human Resource Management (IHRM) for their contribution to raising professional standards and linking skills to employability. “Through your work, Kenya is building a workforce that is skilled, adaptable, and globally competitive,” she said. “We especially applaud HRMPEB for implementing the Recognition of Prior Learning a transformative model that validates experience and practical knowledge gained outside formal education. Kenya is proud to be the first country in Africa to operationalize this model through a professional body.”
She urged the graduates to lead with empathy and integrity, describing HR professionals as “the custodians of our most valuable asset people.”
HRMPEB’s growth has been driven by several strategic reforms, including increasing examination sittings from two to three per year, introducing part-based certification, and operationalizing the Recognition of Prior Learning program. These initiatives have opened new pathways for professionals to advance their qualifications while balancing work and study.
As Kenya transitions toward a knowledge-based economy, HRMPEB’s impact continues to resonate across industries. By strengthening the link between education, skills, and employment, the Board is helping to shape a competent, ethical, and globally competitive HR workforce one poised to drive innovation and anchor the nation’s social and economic transformation.
