Teachers across the country may soon receive long-awaited payments for their work with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) after the government stepped in to address the delays that have caused widespread concern.
Speaking in Uasin Gishu county, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok revealed that he had personally taken up the matter with President William Ruto at State House.
Bitok said he briefed the head of state on the frustrations teachers have been facing due to delayed payments for examination supervision and marking, noting that many educators have been struggling financially.
“I went to the State House and explained to the president that teachers are crying due to delayed KNEC payments,” said Bitok.
He added: “He immediately made a phone call to the National Treasury and directed them to find a quick solution to the issue.”
Following the intervention, the PS assured teachers that the matter is now being handled with urgency and that payments will be processed soon.
“I want to assure teachers that they will be paid in the next few weeks, before the end of this month,” he added.
The delay in KNEC payments has been a recurring concern among teachers who participate in the administration of national examinations, a critical exercise in the country’s education system.
Many have in the past called on the government to streamline payment processes to avoid similar setbacks.
Bitok’s remarks are expected to bring relief and renewed hope to thousands of teachers who have been anxiously waiting for their dues, especially amid rising economic pressures.
The delay in payments to teachers who supervised and marked the 2025 national examinations has been largely attributed to funding constraints, with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) consistently maintaining that it could not process payments without funds from the National Treasury.
In several responses, KNEC indicated that it had completed its internal processes but was unable to release payments due to a lack of funding, effectively shifting responsibility to the Treasury.
Throughout late 2025 and into early 2026, teachers continued to wait for their dues as promises of payment failed to materialise.
The prolonged delay triggered frustration across the teaching fraternity, with many educators accusing the government of making repeated assurances without action.
Some teachers reported waiting for months after completing their examination duties, raising concerns over their financial well-being.
Teacher unions intensified pressure on the government, with the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) and the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) demanding immediate settlement of the arrears.
Union leaders warned that continued delays were eroding morale and could affect teachers’ willingness to participate in future national examinations. They also criticised what they described as a cycle of endless promises from authorities without clear timelines.
READ ALSO: KNEC contracted teachers waiting with bated breath for their long-overdue allowances
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, however, has on several occasions sought to calm the situation, assuring teachers that the government was working to resolve the issue.
He maintained that teachers would be paid soon, attributing the delays to budgetary challenges and the need to align disbursements with available resources.
Despite these assurances, the lack of clear timelines continued to fuel uncertainty among teachers.
By Philip Koech
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