The Human Resource Management Professionals Examinations Board (HRMPEB) has issued a stern warning to human resource officers serving without certification as they risk being struck off.
The bold message came during the CHRP-K Alumni Dinner held at the Swiss Lenana Mount Hotel in Nairobi, where certified professionals, regulators, and private sector leaders gathered not only to celebrate but to chart the future of the HR profession in Kenya.
“We are giving notice: if you’re not certified and not a member of the professional body, you will soon find yourself locked out of practice,” said CHRP Margaret Nguu, CEO of HRMPEB.
Her remarks underscore a new momentum behind a proposed law currently before Parliament , the Public Service Human Resource Bill ,which, if passed, would make it illegal for uncertified individuals to hold HR positions in both public and private institutions.
The move comes amid increasing concern over how some county governments have been employing unqualified HR personnel, with critics saying the trend undermines professionalism and exposes public institutions to inefficiency and legal risk.
“We want the HR profession to be as respected as law or medicine,” Nguu added. “It’s time we upheld professional standards. No more political appointees with no background in HR.”
Currently, Kenya has over 20,000 registered HR practitioners, but only 3,713 are certified under the Certified Human Resource Professional , Kenya (CHRP-K) program.
To bridge the gap, HRMPEB is launching the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) pathway a new certification route for professionals who have served in HR for many years but lack formal qualifications.
“We are not locking anyone out,” Nguu explained. “RPL gives you a chance to submit a portfolio of evidence, prove your competence, and get assessed without sitting formal exams.”
This alternative aims to include long-serving HR officers who may not be able to return to a classroom but possess a wealth of practical knowledge and experience.
Beyond compliance, the alumni dinner highlighted the importance of networking and knowledge-sharing in a profession that’s rapidly evolving.
“Getting a job may take a CV, but growing and keeping it requires a strong network,” said Lillian Ngala, Human Resource Director at Diamond Trust Bank.
“No man is an island. This dinner reminds us that HR can’t thrive in silos , we need to connect, collaborate and stay ahead together.”
Ngala also emphasized that while certification helps, many HR professionals still face outdated perceptions in the workplace , especially within the public sector.
“Some employers still think HR is just paperwork. They don’t understand strategic HR. That’s why we must start from the top , sensitizing senior leaders and pushing awareness of what certified HR can really do.”
The CHRP-K Alumni Dinner, while celebratory in tone, was a clear signal that change is coming to the human resource profession in Kenya.
With a bill in Parliament, a growing pool of certified professionals, and a regulatory body keen on enforcing standards, HRMPEB says the future belongs to those who are willing to professionalize, comply, and grow.
“It’s not about gatekeeping,” said Nguu. “It’s about building credibility, protecting institutions, and elevating the HR profession to what it truly should be , strategic, ethical, and respected.”
