Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah has asked the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to recall and recompute the 2025 KCSE results, alleging unfair and discriminatory grading of Kenya Sign Language (KSL).
In a letter dated January 12, 2026 to the KNEC Chief Executive Officer, Omtatah claims KSL was treated differently for hearing and hearing‑impaired candidates, undermining fairness, equity, and inclusive education.
According to the senator, KSL, classified under Category 5 as a technical subject in the 8‑4‑4 framework was handled as a compulsory language for hearing‑impaired candidates alongside English and Kiswahili, but excluded from the final aggregate for hearing candidates who sat KSL as a registered subject. He argues the inconsistency amounts to a post‑exam policy shift executed without public participation, official circulars, or stakeholder notification.
“This action contradicts the established grading precedent for KSL since its inception as an examinable subject,” Omtatah wrote, adding that schools invested in trained teachers and timetabled instruction on the legitimate expectation that KSL would be graded like any other KNEC‑approved subject. He described the disparity as an unfair administrative action that violates students’ rights and legitimate expectations.
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Omtatah has given KNEC seven days to release nationwide data on the number of candidates affected by the alleged inconsistency and to recall and recompute all impacted results to include KSL scores for hearing candidates in line with its technical subject categorisation. “Exams must be fair. Rules cannot change after the fact,” he said, warning that failure to respond substantively within the stipulated period would prompt legal action, including a petition to the High Court.
Beyond the recount demand, the senator is seeking an immediate policy directive clarifying KSL grading for current Form Three and Form Four students, to ensure consistency ahead of future examinations. He has also requested a temporary suspension of registration for the 2026 KCSE until KNEC issues a clear, transparent policy communicated to students, parents, and schools.
The intervention comes amid wider concern over the treatment of technical and inclusive subjects in national assessments, with stakeholders calling for predictable rules and transparent grading frameworks. Omtatah insists that clarity and consistency are essential to protect the integrity of the examination system and uphold inclusive education goals. KNEC had not publicly responded to the letter by press time.
By Masaki Enock
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