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KNEC is facing a Ksh5 billion funding shortfall ahead of this year’s national examinations, with a record 3.5 million learners expected to sit various assessments between September and November.
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The budget estimates for 2026/2027 stand at Ksh9 billion against a requirement of Sh14 billion
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is facing a Ksh5 billion funding shortfall ahead of this year’s national examinations, with a record 3.5 million learners expected to sit various assessments between September and November.
According CEO Dr. David Njeng’ere, KNEC requires Ksh14 billion to administer the examinations and assessments during the 2026/2027 financial year but has only been allocated Sh9 billion in the national budget, leaving a deficit of Ksh5 billion.
Dr. Njeng’ere said the council is engaging the Ministry of Education to secure additional funding before the examination period begins.
“The budget estimates for 2026/2027 stand at Ksh9 billion against a requirement of Sh14 billion. We are working closely with the Ministry of Education to secure the balance in good time and mitigate the challenges associated with underfunding,” said Dr. Njeng’ere.
According to KNEC, a total of 1,300,864 learners have registered for the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), 1,193,200 for the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and 1,049,276 candidates for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The KCSE candidature has surpassed the one-million mark for the first time.
The council will also oversee the inaugural Grade 10 School-Based Assessment (SBA) under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) framework, bringing the total number of learners sitting national assessments this year to approximately 3.5 million.
Dr. Njeng’ere described the examination season as one of the most demanding in KNEC’s history.
“This year will be quite heavy. It is the second year of administering three major assessments—KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE—with each attracting close to one million candidates. In addition, the Grade 10 cohort will sit its first Senior School-based assessment,” he said.
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The transition to the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) has further increased pressure on the council, as it must manage continuous assessments alongside traditional national examinations.
The introduction of the Grade 10 SBA has added new logistical demands, including the development of digital assessment platforms, teacher training and nationwide standardisation measures to ensure consistency and credibility across schools.
KNEC’s financial challenges have also come under scrutiny from Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, who recently declared the council technically insolvent. Her report indicated that KNEC’s accumulated deficit stood at Sh2.79 billion as of June 2025.
The report further showed that the council’s liabilities of Ksh2.81 billion exceeded its current assets of Ksh694.8 million, resulting in negative working capital of Ksh2.12 billion.
The funding strain has been compounded by unresolved payment arrears from the previous examination cycle. Approximately 45,000 examiners who handled KCSE and KJSEA assessments are owed an estimated Sh2.7 billion, with some payments delayed since April 2026.
While the government has pledged to continue settling the arrears through a phased payment plan, education stakeholders are urging the establishment of a sustainable funding mechanism to shield national examinations from recurring budgetary crises.
With the examination season fast approaching, stakeholders warn that timely release of funds will be critical to ensuring the smooth administration of assessments for the largest cohort of candidates in Kenya’s history.
By Benedict Aoya
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