The specific heat of CeNiGe₃, Ce₂Ni₃Ge₅, Ce₃NiGe₂ and Ce₃Ni₂Ge₇ and their isostructural analogues with La or Y was studied in the temperature range 2.5--70 K. For all the Ce-based compounds C_p(T) exhibits pronounced \lambda -shaped peaks at the magnetic phase transitions. In the paramagnetic range Kondo and Schottky terms notably contribute to the total specific heat. In the ordered region, C_p(T) is dominated by a spin-wave contribution. The characteristic Kondo and RKKY energy scales in all the compounds are estimated to be of similar magnitude.

PACS numbers: 75.20.Hr, 75.30.Mb