The High Court has halted the Kenya National Examinations Council’s (KNEC) decision to introduce a mid-year Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam.
This suspension follows a petition by Nakuru-based doctor Magare Gikenyi, who argued that the plan lacked adequate public participation.
The proposed July exams aimed to accommodate repeat candidates seeking to improve their grades. Students who wished to retake seven or more subjects would be classified as full repeaters, while those opting for fewer subjects would be categorized as partial repeaters.
However, Kisii High Court Lady Justice Odera Teresa Achieng issued temporary conservatory orders, citing the petition met the legal threshold for intervention. The ruling preserves the status quo until a full hearing takes place.
Dr. Gikenyi’s legal challenge highlights concerns about fairness and procedural integrity. He argues that KNEC failed to engage key stakeholders, violating constitutional principles under Articles 10, 24, 27, 73, and 75. He further contends that introducing a July exam disadvantages some students by creating two groups—one with limited preparation time and another with a longer study period for the traditional November exams.
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The petitioner also emphasizes that KCSE exams have historically been held in November, establishing a legitimate expectation among students. Abrupt changes without consulting affected learners, parents, and education stakeholders, he argues, infringe on students' right to fair administrative action.
This legal dispute emerged just days after KNEC opened registration for the mid-year exams, scheduled to run from January 26 to February 21, 2025. With the court’s intervention, the fate of the new exam schedule remains uncertain pending further hearings.
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