Woman sues Knec for not giving her man’s name
Allowing a woman to change her name in her primary education certificate to that of a man will encourage other candidates to make similar requests, the national examining council has said.
Before High Court Judge David Majanja, Ms Dorcas Wangui, alias John Karanja, has requested a name change in her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) claiming she was born and raised as a girl but a doctor later declared she was a man.
The Kenya National Examination Council (Knec), through an affidavit of legal officer Andrew Nyachio, said it could not allow such a change.
Drop out
Ms Wangui said failure by the council to act on her request for a change of name or amendment was denying her the right to education.
Ms Wangui said she started experiencing changes that left her confused before the doctor declared her a man.
“The changes traumatised me and further made me more depressed. I decided to drop out of school and after medical examination, a doctor told me I was male,” said Ms Wangui in her affidavit.
Mr Nyachio further stated that the council did not originate information on candidates, but compiled their data received from various schools and education offices.
“There is no requirement in law for the council to effect a name change on the applicant or any other person’s certificate,” said Mr Nyachio.
He added that the council could not effect name changes on certificates that had already been issued.
Ms Wangui has also sued the Attorney General and Registrar General of Births and Deaths seeking to be registered as John Karanja Kariuki and be issued with a birth certificate.
The case will be heard on March 4.