The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams initially scheduled for July this year will be canceled. This decision follows a High Court ruling on January 29, which suspended the Mid-Year KCSE Retake pending further hearings in the case.
In a press statement on Thursday, Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang assured the public that the government would comply with the court order. “We will honor the court’s ruling and suspend the Mid-Year KCSE Retake as directed,” Kipsang stated. He further clarified that candidates who had originally registered for the July exams would be allowed to sit for the November KCSE exams, provided the suspension is not lifted.
The legal challenge to the mid-year retake was brought by Dr. Magare Gikenyi, a Nakuru-based physician, who raised concerns about the integrity of Kenya’s examination system. In his petition, Dr. Gikenyi argued that introducing mid-year KCSE retakes could create vulnerabilities that would undermine the credibility of the national examinations. He also criticized the lack of consultation with students and other stakeholders, emphasizing that the initiative violated constitutional rights and governance principles.
Dr. Gikenyi highlighted that the new guidelines for the July cohort would give students limited preparation time compared to those sitting for the November exams, which could compromise fairness. “This creates two separate categories of students, which undermines the fairness of the examination system,” he argued.
In response to the petition, Lady Justice Teresia Achieng of the Kisii High Court issued a conservatory order, halting the planned KCSE retake. Justice Achieng acknowledged the seriousness of the concerns raised and ordered an immediate pause for further judicial scrutiny. The court has set February 12 as the deadline for the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and other parties to file their responses before a final decision is made.
As the case progresses, stakeholders await further developments regarding the future of the Mid-Year KCSE Retake.
