Teachers cry foul as KNEC withholds exams payments five months down

Teachers who coordinated the 2025 national exams are still awaiting payment five months after the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and other exams were concluded, sparking outrage over alleged sidelining by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).

According to reports, invigilators, supervisors, and marking teams are yet to receive their dues, raising questions on the availability or where their money went.(Education News Kenya — https://educationnews.co.ke/news/teachers-cry-foul-as-knec-withholds)

The teachers who spoke to Education News expressed their frustrations, saying while they are being ignored; billions are being splashed to protect President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election.

They added that the delay in payments have caused financial hardship for many teachers who worked tirelessly to ensure the exams were conducted smoothly. “It’s unfair that we’re being treated this way after all our efforts,” said one teacher.

They are calling upon the government to quickly address the issue and ensure that teachers are paid their dues. The situation has sparked widespread concern and calls for accountability in public finance management.

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This come amid financial constraints reported at the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) , with a Ksh1 billion budget shortfall threatening the administration of national exams.

According to the reports, the council’s accumulated deficit stands at Ksh2.79 billion, with liabilities outweighing current assets. This has led to delayed payments to teachers who worked as invigilators, supervisors, and examiners for the 2025 KCSE and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams.

The financial strain is attributed to inadequate budgetary allocations, with KNEC relying heavily on grants. The council has requested additional funding to recruit more staff and complete a stalled building project.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has acknowledged the payment delays, assuring that the government is working to release the funds.

The situation has sparked concerns about the sustainability of future national examination exercises and the impact on students’ learning outcomes.

By Kimtai Cherongis