Gatoto school row: KNEC boss, former headteacher summoned to explain fate of 300 candidates

Former Gatoto Primary School headteacher Margaret Kimani and Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Njengere have been summoned to court to explain how about 300 candidates caught up in a dispute over the school's status will be allowed to sit their examinations.

The two are expected to appear before justice Gregory Mutai on September 29, 2026.

The court heard that some of the learners have been unable to register for the examinations or complete the required subject selection process after Gatoto Primary School was changed from a public to a private institution.

Lawyers appearing in the matter told the court that the immediate concern was to find a solution that would allow the affected learners to register and sit their examinations, with the subject selection window having already closed.

Lawyer Danstan Omari told the court that roughly half of the affected candidates had already registered and selected their subjects, while the rest were yet to complete the process.

At the centre of the dispute are examination registration credentials previously held by Kimani. Lawyers differed on whether the credentials could be surrendered or transferred following changes in the school's administration.

One side argued that the credentials were linked to the institution, while another maintained that they were issued to an individual official and could not simply be transferred because of examination security and data-protection requirements.

Counsel told the court that KNEC was central to resolving the impasse and should determine how the affected candidates could be registered and allowed to sit their examinations.

Among the proposals put before the court was for KNEC to facilitate the registration of the learners at Gatoto, with another option being to have them registered through another public school and sit their examinations under that arrangement.

Lawyers also told the court that Gatoto had historically served as an examination centre, but its change in status had created difficulties in registering candidates under the public school system.

The court was urged to focus on the immediate welfare of the learners rather than allow the wider dispute over the school's administration and status to prevent them from sitting their examinations.

The judge subsequently summoned Kimani and Dr Njegere to appear in court and clarify the registration and examination arrangements for the affected candidates.

The matter will now turn on the response from KNEC and the summoned officials on how the learners can be registered and enabled to sit their examinations within the applicable examination rules.