KNEC Sued Over Integrity and Credibility of 2023 KCSE Exam Results
The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) is facing legal action from Operation Linda Jamii, a community-based organization, regarding concerns about the integrity and credibility of the 2023 KCSE results.
Filed at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi, the petition asserts that Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, by unilaterally altering the KCSE grading system, has violated Section 10 of the KNEC Act of 2023.
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This section grants the council exclusive power to regulate the grading system for national examinations.
Operation Linda Jamii contends that the absence of public participation before implementing the new grading system breaches Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya, which emphasizes national values and principles of governance.
Despite the Ministry of Education citing reasons for the system change to facilitate more direct entries into universities, the petitioner notes a decline in the percentage of candidates securing direct placement, from 59.14% in 2022 to 58.27% under the new system.
In addition to challenging the provisional release of results on the KNEC portal, Operation Linda Jamii criticizes the council for lacking accountability and transparency in computing final results.
The case highlights a specific instance at Oruba Boys Secondary School in Migori County, where candidates with a mean grade of D plain allegedly had a deviation of 1 to 2 points.
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Seeking conservatory orders, Operation Linda Jamii aims to halt student placement by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), asserting that the integrity and credibility of the KCSE 2023 remain in question.
The organization also requests the court to compel KNEC to provide marking reports for all subjects examined, chief invigilators’ reports from all examination centers, and any other orders deemed fit for justice.
KNEC and the Ministry of Education have a deadline of 14 days from the date of service to file their responses.
The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service is also involved as an interested party. The case is scheduled for mention on March 12, 2024.
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KNEC Sued Over Integrity and Credibility of 2023 KCSE Exam Results
