If you apply 12 N force to a block on a horizontal surface then it starts its movement. Now if you apply 15 N force to it then what will be the frictional force on it?
As we know, fK<fs , kinetic friction is just sufficient to keep the block moving, and also it is lesser than static friction.
The best can be understood by the friction curve.
When you apply 12 N then the block starts its movement. This means the value of the static friction is 12 N. Now if you increase it to 15 N or more, the block moves further. Here sliding friction is just sufficiently enough to keep the block in moving condition, but the value of sliding friction(kinetic friction), is lesser than limiting friction. and we know that the sliding friction is lesser than the static friction. So in this case the sliding friction will be less than 12 N.