- KUPPET has warned that teachers will not administer or mark national exams until an MoU with KNEC is agreed.
- The union has clarified that previous examination payments have already been settled, with the dispute now focused on future timelines.
- Milemba has called for the government, KNEC and KUPPET to return to the negotiating table before exam preparations reach a critical stage.
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has warned that teachers will neither administer nor mark national examinations until the government and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) guaranteeing prompt payment of examination allowances.
KUPPET Executive Chairman Omboko Milemba issued the warning, stating the union’s position in clear terms. “There will be no marking, there will be no administration until we agree,” Milemba said.
Milemba has urged teachers to hold off on downloading deployment letters for national examination duties until the MoU is agreed upon.
The union clarified that the dispute does not concern unpaid allowances from previous examination cycles, noting that those outstanding payments have already been made. The demand instead centres on ensuring that future examination payments are made promptly, predictably and within clearly agreed timelines.
According to KUPPET’s position, teachers should not be required to complete examination duties and then wait indefinitely to receive their allowances.
Milemba is calling for clear commitments covering how teachers are recruited, deployed, facilitated and paid for examination duties. He said a binding MoU could establish the rates payable to teachers, deployment procedures, reporting requirements, the respective responsibilities of KNEC and the government, facilitation arrangements and a definite payment timeline after the completion of duty.
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The proposed agreement would also address facilitation for teachers involved in national examinations, who often travel away from their normal stations to report to designated centres and remain there for several days or weeks. KUPPET wants transport, accommodation and other logistical requirements properly planned and funded, rather than teachers financing examination duties from their own resources while awaiting reimbursement.
KUPPET said national examination work requires accuracy, confidentiality, discipline and a high level of responsibility, with teachers administering papers, supervising candidates, handling examination materials and marking scripts in duties that directly affect the credibility of national examination results.
The union noted that the role of the Treasury and other government agencies is central to the matter, as timely payment ultimately depends on proper budgeting, availability and release of funds, and efficient processing of allowances.
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Milemba’s warning comes against the backdrop of wider concerns raised by teachers over promotion delays, pension payments, prolonged internship programmes, staffing shortages, career progression and access to further education.
KUPPET is pressing for the government, KNEC and the union to return to the negotiating table and agree on a framework before examination preparations reach a critical stage.
By Hillary Muhalya
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