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According to the Panthic Sikh Rehit Maryada, published by the SGPC:
The five K's are:
I. Kesh (unshorn hair),
II. Kirpan {sheathed sword} (The length of the sword to be worn is not prescribed.,
III. Kachhehra (The Kachhehra (drawers like garment) may be made from any cloth, but its legs should not reach down to below the shins.),
IV. Kanga (comb),
V. Karha {steel bracelet} (The Karha should be of pure iron.)

Some Sikhs and Panthic groups, in particular the Akhand Kirtani Jatha, believe Keski is Kakkaar, not Kesh. Those Gursikhs who argue Keski is Kakkaar, argue the following:
1) All the other Kakkaars are physical items and external uniform, whereas everyone is born with Kesh and Kesh cannot be "worn" as a uniform.
2) A Sikh is prohibited from dishonouring the Kesh as one of the four cardinal taboos, and therefore, to say Kesh is Kakkar is repeating the same message.
3) A Keski has to be worn to protect and respect the Kesh.

WHAT IS KESKI?
Keski/ Kesgi/ Chhoti Dastaar: According to Mahan Kosh, Keski is ਛੋਟੀ ਪੱਗ ਜੋ ਕਿ ਕੇਸਾਂ ਦੀ ਰਿਖਆ ਲਈ ਪਿਹਰੀ ਜਾਂਦੀ ਹੈ।. In other words, Keski is small turban (chhottee dastaar) that is kept on at all times and is worn underneath the larger turban. A Keski is usually half the length of a full turban. It can be from 2 to 3 metres of cotton material (A keski should have at least 3 wraps around the head).

The Dastaar is a mark of visual identity, which conveys royalty, grace and uniqueness. The Dastaar represents complete commitment. Practising Sikh men and women both are instructed to wear the Dastaar. It is a spiritual crown reminding a Sikh that he or she sits on the throne of consciousness, committed to higher principles.

Practically, it keeps the hair clean, contained and stabilizes the main larger turban (usually worn by men). In addition to this, the Keski or Dastaar is worn to protect the head and show respect to the ‘Dasam Dwaar’ (spiritual energy gate on top of the head, where one experiences the Divine within). One Gursikh described the Keski as the following:

“We meet Waheguru via our Dasam Dwaar. Our Dasam Dwaar is located on top of our head. We do all different types of sewa (service) to please Waheguru, yet we must remember to do the sewa of adorning our Dasam Dwaar because it is here where we meet Waheguru. Keski (turban) is the seva of Dasam Duaar.”

The Keski (short turban) is kept on the head at all times, even when sleeping. During having a shower or drying one's hair, the Keski can be wrapped around the waist.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Historically both Sikh men and women wore at least the short turban (Keski). Right up to the reign of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Sikh women had been steadfast in following the edicts of the Guru which included wearing the Dastaar. This was also witnessed by English observers in the Panjab during this time. Well known 19th Century English Historian, J. D. Cunningham (1812-1851) who was an eye witness to the First Anglo-Sikh War, in his History of the Sikhs - 1848 refers to Sikh women of that time as follows: "The Sikh women are distinguished from Hindus of their sex by some variety of dress, chiefly by a higher topknot of hair." Higher topknot of hair on Sikh women's heads automatically implies their coverage by some sort of turban, as Cunningham has connected it with "some variety of dress."

Even after the Punjab came under the British rule, this article of faith of the Keski was conspicuously seen in case of Sikh women as well as men right up to the Gurdwara movement and the establishment of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in 1926. Until then, no one - man as well as woman was allowed to be initiated (by taking Amrit) at Sri Akal Takht Sahib without a Keski. It was only afterwards that laxity was introduced in this respect and the wearing of Keski was made optional. With the introduction of this laxity, the other anti-Sikh practice of wearing piercing ornaments in the nose and ears also became prevalent in Sikh women.

IN WHICH TEXTS OR REHATNAMAS IS KESKI MENTIONED?

ਤੁਮ੍ਹੇ ਪਾਹੁਲ ਦੇਨੇ ਸੇ ਪਹਿਲੇ- ਹਮੇਂ ਪਾਂਚ ਕਕਾਰ ਦੀਏ ਹੈਂ- ਇਨ੍ਹੇ ਭੁਲ ਕੇ ਬਦਨ ਸੇ ਜੁਦਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਕਰਨਾ । ਪ੍ਰਿਥਮੇ ਤੁਸਾਂ ਕੋ ਨੀਲੀ ਰਾਂਗ ਕੀ ਕੇਸਕੀ, ਕੰਘਾ, ਕ੍ਰਿਪਾਨ, ਸਰਬ ਲੋਹ ਕਾ ਕੜਾ ਤੇ ਸਫੈਦ ਰੰਗ ਕਾ ਕਛਿਹਰਾ ਦੀਆ ਹੈ । ਇਨ ਮੇਂ ਏਕ ਭੀ ਜੁਦਾ ਹੋਇ ਜਾਇ, ਗੁਰਦਵਾਰੇ ਜਾਇ ਸੰਗਤ ਮੇਂ ਬਖਸ਼ਾਨਾ, ਢਿਲ ਨਹੀਂ ਪਾਨਾ ।
"Before giving you Amrit, I (Guru Gobind Singh Ji) gave you five Kakkaars, which you never separate from your body. First to be given you is the blue-coloured Keski, Kangha, Kirpan, pure iron Karha, and white-colour Kachhera. If any one of these gets separated (from you), then seek forgiveness for that from the Sangat in the Gurdwara, and in doing this there should be no delay."
(Guru Kian Sakhiaan, authored by Swaroop Singh Kanishk (1790ce), p. 123)

ਕੱਛ, ਕੜਾ, ਕਿ੍ਰਪਾਨ, ਕੰਘਾ, ਕੇਸਕੀ, ਇਹ ਪੰਜ ਕਕਾਰ ਰਹਿਤ ਧਰੇ ਸਿਖ ਸੋਇ ॥
"Kachhera, Karha, Kirpan, Kangha, Keski - Whoever keeps the discipline of wearing these 5Ks will be known as my Sikh."
(Bhai Chaupa Singh Rehatnama)

Bhai Kavi Santokh Singh Ji in his Gur Partaap Suraj Granth clearly emntions that Guru Gobind Singh Ji himself tied the Keski on Mata Bhaag Kaur Ji's head. In addition to this, there are numerous Rehatnamas which instruct a Sikh must wear a turban:

ਜੋ ਪਗ ਨੂੰ ਬਾਸੀ ਰਖੇ ਸੋ ਤਨਖਾਹੀਆ। ਇਸ ਲਈ ਹਰ ਗੁਰੂ ਕੇ ਸਿੱਖ ਲਈ ਲਾਜ਼ਮੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਰੋਜ਼ ਦਸਤਾਰ ਸਜਾਵੇ।
"One who does not tie a fresh turban is liable for penalty. For this reason it is mandatory for every Sikh of the Guru to tie a turban everyday."
(Rehitnama Bhai Chaupa Singh)

ਜੂੜਾ ਸੀਸ ਕੇ ਮੱਧ ਭਾਗ ਮੇਂ ਰਾਖੈ, ਔਰ ਪਾਗ ਬੜੀ ਬਾਂਧੇ ।
"Tie your hair-knot on the top of your head, and tie a turban."
(Bhai Desa Singh Rehatnama)

੩੫. ਦਸਤਾਰ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਨਹੀਂ ਰਿਹਣਾ, ਕੇਸ ਨੰਗੇ ਨਹੀਂ ਰੱਖਣੇ ॥
"Do not stay without a turban, do not keep your hair uncovered."
(Guru Gobind Singh Ji - 52 Hukams of the Tenth Master recorded by Baba Ram Koher Ji at Hazoor Sahib)

IS IT ANTI-PANTHIC TO BELIEVE KESKI AS KAKKAAR?
By believing Keski (turban) is the Kakkaar, it doesn't negate Kesh or undermine the sacredness of Kesh. In fact, promoting the wearing of a Keski (turban) shows greater respect and reverence for the sacred hair and also the Dasam Duaar. If the Jatha had given the option of cutting hair and keeping Keski instead of that, then it would have violated the SGPC published Maryada but as things are, the Jatha is the strongest supporter of Kesh. Violation of cutting hair is one of the 4 Bajjar Kurehits (cardinal sins).

SUMMARY
Kesh or Keski Kakkaar: Whether you believe Kesh is Kakkaar or Keski, the most important thing is to keep both. Kes are very important in Sikhi and a Sikh must keep his/her hair. Keski is very important to cover Kes. Both are required for a Sikh (male and female). Both sides have rehatwaan Gursikhs such as Bhai Fauja Singh Ji and Baba Jarnail Singh Ji. We all should look at their jeevans and learn from their sacrifices.

Importance of keski cannot be ignored as even those Panthic organizations which do not believe in it being a kakkaar accept it as a general requirement. There is a need to unite and not argue over the kakkaar issue, the more important thing is everyone maintaining their Kesh and covering the head with a Keski for both men men and women.

We should try to live our lives while promoting Gursikhi jeevan and if we create controversies out of these important aspects of a Gursikh's life, we will only make ourselves look bad in front of Guru Sahib.