- KNEC has reported a Sh6.7 billion funding gap against the Sh16.6 billion it needs to administer national examinations and assessments.
- The council has prepared to handle one of its largest assessment cycles yet, covering about 1.3 million KPSEA candidates, 1.19 million KJSEA candidates and over one million KCSE candidates.
- Education stakeholders have warned that the shortfall could affect the efficiency and credibility of Kenya’s expanding Competency-Based Education assessment system.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) is facing a KSh6.7 billion funding shortfall that threatens to disrupt the administration of national examinations and the country’s expanding Competency-Based Education (CBE) assessments, at a time when the council requires an estimated KSh16.6 billion to run its operations effectively.
The shortfall comes at a critical moment in the wake of one of the largest examination cycles in KNEC’s history. The council is set to manage assessments for approximately 1.3 million Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) candidates, about 1.19 million Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) candidates, and more than one million Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) candidates, underscoring the scale of the task at hand.
KNEC is the institution mandated to develop, administer and manage Kenya’s national examinations and assessments, ensuring learners are evaluated through credible, secure and transparent processes. Its responsibilities span the KCSE, KPSEA and KJSEA, alongside the wider suite of assessments introduced under the CBE system.
The financial pressure comes as CBE reshapes what assessment in Kenya actually requires. Where the previous system centred on a single final examination, learners under CBE must now demonstrate their abilities through continuous assessments, projects and practical activities, with evaluation extending beyond academic knowledge to competencies, skills, creativity, innovation and practical ability. Meeting that mandate demands sustained investment in assessment tools, digital systems, teacher training, quality assurance and nationwide coordination.
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Delivering that mandate rests on a complex logistical chain: registration, preparation and secure distribution of materials, supervision, marking, results processing and certification, coordinated across thousands of schools nationwide. The exercise draws in teachers, examiners, supervisors, security agencies, education officials and support staff, meaning that any financial constraint can place direct pressure on how efficiently these operations run.
Education stakeholders have consistently pointed out that the credibility of national examinations rests on KNEC’s capacity to uphold high standards in assessment development, examination security, marking and results processing. A well-resourced examination system, they argue, protects learners’ interests by guaranteeing fairness, accuracy and timely progression to the next stage of education or training; outcomes that parents, teachers, universities, employers and policymakers all depend on when making critical decisions.
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The funding gap has reignited debate over how examination activities are financed in the long run. As CBE continues to expand the scope of assessment, stakeholders maintain that predictable and adequate funding is essential to avoid disruptions and preserve public confidence in the education system.
CBE represents a significant opportunity to recognise learner talent and ability beyond conventional academic performance, but stakeholders caution that realising this potential depends on giving implementing institutions like KNEC adequate financial and technical support. Closing the funding gap, they say, is ultimately about safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s education system and ensuring that millions of learners continue to receive fair, credible and internationally respected assessments.
By Hillary Muhalya
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