Rarieda teachers raise alarm over delayed KNEC exam payments as 2026 exams near

Teachers involved in the management of national examinations in Rarieda Sub-County have called on the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to clear their payments promptly after the 2026 examinations, saying delays in paying supervisors, invigilators, examiners and other personnel have left many educators frustrated.

Speaking during a KNEC briefing at Ramba Boys' Senior School, Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) chairman Bernard Nyawanda urged the council to budget adequately for examination personnel and ensure they are paid promptly once the exercise ends. "What is going on currently is not good. Just budget and pay us," Nyawanda said, also urging schools to provide a conducive environment for teachers and other officials managing the examinations.

His remarks were echoed by KESSHA official Philemon Ochwal, who called for better support for personnel involved in the examination process. The newly appointed KNUT Executive Secretary for Rarieda Sub-County also asked KNEC to address the payment delays, saying teachers have expressed dissatisfaction over the issue, and urged education officials to deploy teachers of integrity to supervise and invigilate the examinations, warning that strict adherence to examination rules would be critical in protecting the credibility of the 2026 national tests.

The officials assured school heads that preparations for the examinations were on course, with candidates having been adequately prepared for the national tests. KNEC officer Caleb Akech told centre managers that examination containers will be opened at 6am, with some examination papers collected once a day and others requiring collection twice daily. He urged school heads to familiarise themselves with examination regulations and take responsibility for the security of examination materials, warning that familiarity with procedures should not lead to complacency.

Centre managers were advised to report early to collect examination materials and strictly observe prescribed timelines. "A mistake by one person can make the whole centre suffer," the meeting was told, with officials stressing the need to prevent examination irregularities at all costs.

The briefing also touched on environmental conservation, with schools in Siaya expected to participate in tree-planting activities ahead of Mazingira Day on October 10. Siaya County has set a target of planting six million tree seedlings this year, with schools expected to play a key role in the campaign.

The meeting was attended by education officials, KNEC representatives, school heads, teachers' union officials and other education stakeholders from Rarieda. The outgoing education leadership was recognised for maintaining good relations between teachers, school heads, unions and education officers, as well as promoting peace and strong performance in curricular and co-curricular activities in the sub-county. School heads were also urged to register for the national conference scheduled to take place in Mombasa next month.