Omtatah now wants 2017 KCPE, KCSE marked answer sheets released

Activist Okiya Omtatah has filed a case seeking to have the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) compelled to release certified copies of the marked answer sheets of each candidate who sat the 2017 KCPE and KCSE exams.

Omtatah wants the documents released to each school or examination centre which fielded candidates.

He argues that by not releasing the marked answer sheets to candidates through their respective schools where they sat the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) or the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations (KCSE), KNEC variously violates the Constitution of Kenya, 2010.

“Candidates who sit Kenya Certificate of Primary Education or the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examinations have a right to receive certified copies of their marked answer sheets,” claims Omtatah.

He says that for this to be achieved, the process of awarding, collating and validation of results must be transparent and have the most in terms of integrity, transparency and accountability.

“To fail to do so undermines the rights of children under this provision of the Constitution,” the activist avers.

It is his argument that KNEC impugned decision not to release the marked answer sheets to schools is “arbitrary and shrouded in secrecy and amounts to denying the children who sit KCPE and KCSE examinations a fair hearing.”

Omtatah argues that KNEC has failed to respect, uphold and defend the Constitution of Kenya 2010.

“The release of the answer sheets, as sought by the petitioner, will not compromise the integrity of the examination or the examination process nor infringe on the right of anyone to privacy so as to qualify for exemption under Section 42(2) of the Kenya National Examination Council Act No. 29 of 2012,” reads the petition.