The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is facing scrutiny and has been slapped with a demand letter following claims of grading irregularities in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results. In his letter, Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has detailed the basis of his argument, giving the council an ultimatum.
This controversy concerns the computation of Kenya Sign Language’s (KSL) final grades for different groups of candidates.
Okiya Omtatah formally petitioned KNEC, alleging that KSL scores were excluded for hearing candidates, while the subject was treated as a compulsory language for hearing-impaired students.
“KSL was inconsistently excluded from final grade computation for some candidates after the exam, without notice, consultation, or legal basis. This violates fairness, legitimate expectation, and inclusive education principles,” Okiya Omtatah noted.
The letter states that this change was applied after the examination, without prior notification, consultation, or legal basis, and contradicts established grading practices.
Alleged Discrimination in Grading
According to the Senator, KSL is classified under Category 5 (technical subjects) in the 8-4-4 curriculum. For hearing-impaired candidates, it was graded alongside English and Kiswahili.
“However, it has come to my attention that its treatment in the computation of the final grade differed significantly between two candidate groups,” the petition noted further.
For hearing candidates who registered and sat the examination as a technical subject, KSL scores were reportedly excluded from final grade computation.
Additionally, the petition highlighted that this post-examination change violated the legitimate expectations of students.
Candidates had selected KSL in good faith, registered for the subject, and completed their studies, assuming the grading would follow existing KNEC guidelines.
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Okiya Omtatah also stated that the inconsistency had affected schools’ planning, allocation of teaching resources, and student preparation.
Okiya Omtatah Demands Action
Okiya has demanded several actions from KNEC, including:
- Provision of data on the total number of candidates nationwide affected by the inconsistent grading of KSL.
- Recall and re-grading of results for all 2025 KCSE candidates affected, ensuring KSL is correctly included for hearing candidates.
- Clear policy guidance for current Form Three and Form Four students, confirming that KSL will be graded according to its established categorisation.
- Temporary suspension of 2026 KCSE registration until the matter is resolved and a clear policy is communicated to stakeholders.
Also Read: How to Present Complaints on KCSE Results to KNEC
He warned that if KNEC fails to respond substantively within seven days, legal action will be pursued, including a petition to the High Court to protect the rights of affected students.
“Please be advised that the failure to receive a substantive and satisfactory response from your office within the next seven (7) days will leave me with no alternative but to seek appropriate legal recourse, including petitioning the High Court for necessary orders, to protect the rights and interests of the affected students,” the petition demanded,
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