No more free labour! Oyuu threatens nationwide boycott of KNEC exams over unpaid teachers’ dues

A nationwide disruption of the 2026 national examinations could be looming after the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Collins Oyuu announced that teachers will boycott invigilation and marking duties until all pending payments are cleared.

Oyuu declared that teachers will no longer continue offering services to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) without compensation, insisting that educators deserve timely payment for their work during national examinations.

The standoff comes amid growing frustration among teachers following revelations that KNEC recently received a Ksh9.9 billion allocation.

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However, the examination council maintains that the funds are designated solely for the administration and preparation of the 2026 national examinations and assessments, leaving arrears owed to 2025 examiners unsettled.

At the same time, the National Treasury insists that the required funds were already disbursed in the previous financial year and that no additional allocation has been set aside to clear the outstanding payments.

The impasse has left more than 100,000 teachers who participated in examination supervision, invigilation and marking uncertain about when they will receive their dues, raising fears of a possible nationwide boycott that could paralyze next year’s examination process.

By Philip Koech