The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) have filed a court case seeking to block the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) from conducting national examinations.
In a notice released on Wednesday, February 14, the activists required the government bodies to halt the examination of candidates in both levels, until the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results are audited.
The two groups also demanded that KNEC and Education Cabinet Secretary CS Ezekiel Machogu conduct an audit, and allow the public to access the report.
"KNEC's handling of the KCPE examinations 2023 results cast a shadow of doubt, and created uncertainty amongst the general public, on their ability," the petitioners stated.
Citing the irregularities registered during the 2023 national examination results, the lobby groups alleged that the exam body failed the public for the irregularities registered.
KHRC further explained that the lawsuit was prompted by KNEC’s ignorance after it failed to respond to the group’s request for the system’s exam marking regulations and process.
“Currently, the KNEC's grading process is unclear. Reports indicate that KNEC provides markers with predetermined targets, pushing them to assess a high volume of papers, a practice that may compromise the quality of results,” the petitioners noted.
According to the court document, the petitioners requested that the audit include the exam marking process, award of marks, the moderation process, the results compilation and the results review.
The petitioners further demanded that KNEC and CS Machogu submit the audit in 90 days, pending the determination of the case.
“Suppose the court compels KNEC and Education CS to do the audit and fail. In that case, the petitioners want an order prohibiting them from setting and conducting any KCSE examinations, including issuing KCSE examination results and certificates,” the activists added.
In the 2023 KCSE results, some students questioned abnormalities in their results including varying grades. Schools like Oruba Boys in Migori County agitated for the remarking of the exams after a majority of the students registered D grades.
Other schools chased away their principals for recording poor grades, forcing the Ministry of Education to intervene and protect the teachers.
