The government has come under renewed pressure to release pending payments for thousands of professionals contracted by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) during the 2025 national examinations, after Education Principal Secretary Prof Julius Bitok raised the matter before Parliament on Wednesday, May 13, 2026.
Appearing before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education and Research to review the 2026/2027 Annual Estimates of Expenditure, Prof Bitok acknowledged growing concerns among teachers and examination officials over delayed payments and called for urgent allocation of funds to settle the dues.
“Today, I appeared before the Departmental Committee on Education to review the 2026/2027 Annual Estimates of Expenditure,” Prof Bitok said in a statement shared after the session.
“The session, chaired by the Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education and Research Hon Julius Melly, provided an important opportunity to outline our priorities, strengthen accountability, and reaffirm our commitment to advancing quality and inclusive education for all,” he added.
The PS said one of the key issues he highlighted before MPs was the delayed payment for professionals who supervised, invigilated, marked, coordinated, and managed the 2025 national examinations across the country.
“And yes, I highlighted the urgent need to allocate funds for the payment of 2025 KNEC contracted professionals, acknowledging the concerns raised by teachers and examination officials across the country,” Prof Bitok stated.
The remarks are likely to offer hope to thousands of teachers and education personnel who have repeatedly complained about delayed compensation months after participating in the administration of national examinations.
Apart from the KNEC payments issue, the PS also warned that the education sector is facing a major funding crisis that could affect critical programmes if additional allocations are not made.
“I also appealed for enhanced funding to bridge the Ksh71.77 billion budget deficit affecting capitation, textbooks, examination administration, school feeding programmes, and Grade 9 classrooms,” he said.
Prof Bitok further announced that the government plans to consolidate capitation for primary and junior schools beginning next financial year in a move aimed at improving efficiency and optimizing resources within the education sector.
“Further, I outlined the Government’s plan to consolidate capitation for primary and junior schools beginning next financial year and advance the establishment of comprehensive schools integrating primary, junior, and senior schools under one institution,” he said.
The PS also revealed plans to establish eight regional Special Needs Education assessment centres to complement the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE).
“Additionally, I announced plans to establish eight regional Special Needs Education assessment centres to complement Kenya Institute of Special Education and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring compliance with the directive requiring schools to release certificates to former students,” he added.
The issue of delayed payments to KNEC-contracted professionals has remained a persistent concern in the education sector over the years. Teachers involved in invigilation, supervision, centre management, and marking of national examinations have frequently complained of long delays before receiving their allowances.
In some instances, examination personnel who participated in the 2024 and early 2025 examination processes publicly protested over non-payment, with unions and teacher lobby groups accusing authorities of failing to honour commitments despite the crucial role played by contracted professionals during examinations.
READ ALSO: KNEC contracted teachers waiting with bated breath for their long-overdue allowances
Teachers have also argued that examination management duties involve intense work, travel, and personal sacrifice, yet compensation often comes months later or remains pending altogether. Some professionals who handled the 2025 examinations have continued to express frustration on social media platforms and teacher forums, saying they are still waiting for payment several months after the exercise ended.
The concerns come at a time when the government is under pressure to fully fund Competency-Based Education reforms, address teacher shortages, improve school infrastructure, and sustain capitation programmes amid growing financial constraints in the education sector.
By Joseph Mambili
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