In a landmark move to overhaul the education sector, the government of Kenya has officially proposed dissolving the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and replacing it with the Kenya National Educational Assessments Council (KNEAC).

The new KNEAC Bill, 2025, approved by Cabinet on Tuesday, introduces stringent penalties for academic malpractice, signalling a “zero-tolerance” era for school administrators and candidates.

The Bill, spearheaded by the ministry of education, seeks to align national evaluation methods with the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) where traditional single final exams would be replaced by continuous assessments, focusing on measuring each child’s abilities accurately.                                                                                                                      Under the new law, school heads face up to 10 years in prison or fines of Sh10 million for document forgery, while leaks of assessment materials on social media carry a five-year jail term.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba described the reform as essential for safeguarding the integrity of Kenyan certificates.

“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 during the briefing.

However, teachers’ unions have expressed concerns about the severity of the penalties with Secretary General of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Collins Oyuu calling 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 Ksh10 million fine is a death sentence for a teacher,” he said.

The public is divided – torn between the desire for clean exams and the shock of the new penalties. Mary Wanjiku, a parent and local trader, said: “For years, we have seen rich kids buy grades while our hardworking children from poor families suffer. If these tough laws finally bring equality to our schools, then the government has my full support.”

If parliament fast-tracks the Bill, KNEC will have 60 days to wind up its operations and transfer all assets, liabilities and records to the newly formed KNEAC.

All current KNEC employees are expected to transition into the new body, subject to fresh vetting.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Faustine Agnes

KNEC headquarters