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The government is considering introducing reforms in the education sector, including replacing the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) with a new body, the Kenya National Educational Assessments Council (KNEAC), through the proposed KNEAC Bill, 2025.
The Bill, approved by Cabinet on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, following a Cabinet dispatch on key policy issues, seeks to shift Kenya’s education system from an examination-centric model to a competency-based assessment framework.
If enacted, the law will repeal the existing KNEC Act and establish KNEAC as its successor. The new council will provide a legal framework for conducting and administering educational assessments across basic education, teacher training, and post-school levels.
Govt to Consider Dissolving KNEC
Under the proposed law, KNEAC will be responsible for setting and maintaining national assessment standards, awarding certificates and diplomas, accrediting assessment centres, including digital e-assessment facilities, and equating foreign qualifications. The council will also conduct research and advise the government on assessment policies.
The Bill provides for both formative (continuous) and summative (end-of-cycle) assessments, which may be conducted through traditional written exams or digital platforms. Heads of institutions will be required to ensure eligible learners are registered for assessments, with penalties for willful or negligent failure to comply. The council will also be mandated to develop assessments tailored to learners with disabilities.
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A key clause in the proposed law states that certificates cannot be withheld by any institution and must be issued within 12 months of releasing results. However, marked scripts will generally not be accessible to candidates or third parties once assessments are complete.
The proposed law introduces stringent penalties for examination malpractice. Unauthorised possession or sharing of assessment materials could attract up to 10 years’ imprisonment or a fine of Sh2 million. Other offences, including script alteration, impersonation, forgery, or leaking materials on social media, carry heavy fines and prison terms.
More Details About the Bill
The Bill also limits certain constitutional rights to safeguard assessment integrity. Personnel involved in national assessments may be restricted from striking if it compromises exam security, and the council may withhold certain information if disclosure threatens assessment integrity.
Also Read: KNEC Addresses Viral Claim That Schools Buy KCSE Exams
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, a proponent of the reforms spearheaded by the Ministry of Education, described the Bill as critical in restoring credibility to Kenya’s assessment system.
“This Bill is the final nail in the coffin for examination cartels. We are replacing a rigid, exam-centric model with a credible competency-based framework that ensures every child’s ability is measured fairly and accurately,” Ogamba said.
However, teachers’ unions have raised concerns over the severity of the proposed penalties. Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu called for a balanced approach.
“Integrity is non-negotiable, but we must ensure that our educators are not criminalised for administrative bottlenecks beyond their control. A Sh10 million fine is a death sentence for a teacher,” he said.
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Photo of KNEC CEO Dr David Njegere. PHOTO/MoE