The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has directed teachers nationwide to boycott invigilation and marking duties of the 2026 national examination over 2025 unpaid allowances.
This was revealed by the KUPPET National Chairperson Omboko Milemba, who said teachers will no longer continue offering services to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) without compensation, insisting that examination work is not voluntary.
The union claims that teachers are yet to receive about Sh1.5 billion owed for work carried out during the 2025 national examinations and assessments.
According to Milemba, the prolonged delay has frustrated thousands of teachers who supervised, invigilated and marked exams across the country.
“Teachers cannot continue working for free while waiting endlessly for money they earned,” Milemba stated.
He warned that unless the government clears the pending dues, teachers will withdraw from all examination-related activities this year.
The dispute has exposed growing tension between the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Treasury over who is responsible for the delayed payments.
Basic Education Principal Secretary Prof. Julius Bitok had earlier assured teachers that the government was working to settle the payments by the end of May after consultations with President William Ruto.
However, Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi dismissed claims that the Treasury was withholding the money.
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Speaking during an interview on Ramogi TV recently, Mbadi said the Treasury had already released all funds allocated to the education sector.
“Teachers should seek answers from the Ministry of Education because the Treasury already disbursed the approved budget,” Mbadi said.
He maintained that there is no additional funding available beyond what Parliament approved for the ministry.
Teachers have also raised concerns after reports indicated that KNEC recently received Sh9.9 billion for examination preparation and administration.
Despite the allocation, the council reportedly stated that the funds are strictly reserved for the 2026 examination cycle and cannot be used to clear the outstanding 2025 debt.
The situation has further angered teachers because other contracted professionals involved in examination management have already been paid.
Those reportedly cleared include:
TTC assessment supervisors.
TVET examiners.
Drivers and security officers involved in exam distribution.
Teachers now accuse authorities of sidelining the very individuals who handled the core examination processes.
The boycott threat now places the country’s examination calendar at risk, as teachers play a central role in supervising and marking national exams.
If the standoff continues unresolved, the administration of examinations across the country could face major challenges.
By Kithinji Njeru
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