Senator Okiya Omtatah of Busia has challenged the Kenya National Examinations Council. He has asked for the immediate remarking of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education results in the Kenya Sign Language (KSL) area following what he considers discriminations. He was represented by his advocate.
In a formal letter addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of KNEC, dated January 13, 2026, the senator raised queries on how KSL was considered in calculating the mean grade for KCSE, as it discriminated against some of the candidates and contravened the longstanding examination procedures that had been followed before.
Omtatah explained that, despite being categorized as a technical group 5 subject by KNEC, Kenya Sign Language was assessed irregularly in the 2025 KCSE. “KSL would be considered as one of those compulsory subjects along with English, Kiswahili, to those who are deaf, while those who are not deaf would not consider it, as it would not form part of the aggregate mark, though it had been registered as a technical subject,” he clarified.
The senator explained,
The component was rendered exempt without consultation, public contribution, or official notification to schools, parents, and candidates.
Lastly, students chose KSL as early as Form Two and pursued their studies through the belief that it would count towards their final learning grade under the KCSE exam.
He further explained that the move marked a departure from the grading system which had been used to grade KSL since the subject was first introduced as an examinable subject by KNEC.
“This type of post-examination policy change flies in the face of fairness and the doctrine of good faith,” Omtatah argued, adding that those who selected KSL in good faith were thus unduly punished.
The senator was also worried about the effects on schools, having noted that many had already supported the recruitment of teachers who were KSL, and had also allocated time for instruction according to policy guidelines, yet the policy on grades was changed before they were completed, after the exams were conducted.
“Examinations should be just. Rules cannot be altered afterwards,” he said.
In the letter, Omtatah asked KNEC to provide the information on the number of candidates who were affected by the inconsistency in the grading of KSL for the 2025 KCSE within seven days. He also asked for the recall of results of the candidates and the re-computation of the results with KSL included as a technical subject for the candidates to hear.
Further, he appealed to the council to issue a policy guideline directing form three and form four students on how KSL will be marked in future KCSE examinination papers. Omtatah indicated that if the matter is not addressed within the first seven days, he would have no option but to proceed to the High Court for redress. In addition, he requested the suspension of the 2026 KCSE register pending the addresses of the issue at hand.
