- Thousands of teachers who supervised the 2025 national examinations are set to receive their long-awaited allowances from August 6.
- The payments follow the release of funds by the Ministry of Education, with KNEC confirming that all payment arrangements have been finalised.
- The move is expected to restore teachers’ confidence and boost preparations for the 2026 national examinations.
Thousands of teachers and education professionals who supervised the 2025 national examinations are set to receive their long-awaited allowances after the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) announced that payments will begin on Thursday, August 6.
The announcement marks a significant breakthrough for invigilators, supervisors, centre managers and other examination personnel who have waited for months for compensation after overseeing the administration of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA).
The confirmation follows the release of funds by the Ministry of Education to KNEC, paving the way for the council to begin settling outstanding claims owed to examination officials across the country.
Government releases funds
Speaking before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education, Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa assured Members of Parliament that the ministry had already fulfilled its financial obligation by transferring the required funds to KNEC.
According to the Principal Secretary, the council is now ready to commence payments from Thursday, August 6, ending months of uncertainty that had sparked frustration among thousands of teachers who participated in last year’s examination exercise.
KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njengere also confirmed the payment schedule, saying the council had finalised the necessary arrangements to ensure eligible examination personnel begin receiving their dues.
Teachers welcome payment announcement
The development comes after sustained pressure from teachers, unions and legislators, who repeatedly questioned the delay in settling examination allowances despite assurances that the funds would be released.
For months, many invigilators, supervisors and support staff complained that they had not received payments for services rendered during the 2025 examination period. Some expressed fears that the prolonged delays could discourage teachers from participating in future national examinations.
The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had on several occasions warned that continued delays could disrupt preparations for the 2026 national examinations if the government failed to honour its financial commitments to teachers.
The union argued that while a number of examiners had already received their allowances, thousands of other officials remained unpaid despite earlier confirmations that the National Treasury had released part of the required funds.
KUPPET further maintained that KNEC required additional financial resources to fully clear all pending claims owed to examination personnel.
Boost for 2026 examination preparations
The payment announcement is expected to restore confidence among teachers and ease concerns that had been growing within the education sector ahead of this year’s examination cycle.
Nevertheless, some teachers have remained cautious, saying they will only consider the matter resolved after receiving official payment notifications and confirming that the funds have been credited to their accounts.
The settlement of the outstanding allowances is expected to boost the morale of examination officials and strengthen preparations for the 2026 national examinations, where teachers remain central to ensuring the credible, transparent and smooth administration of assessments across the country.
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Education stakeholders have welcomed the government’s commitment, expressing optimism that timely payment of examination personnel will improve confidence in the management of national examinations while reinforcing the important role teachers continue to play in safeguarding the integrity of Kenya’s assessment system
By Hillary Muhalya
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