The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has announced that payments to teachers and examination officials owed allowances for the 2025 national examinations will commence on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
The announcement was made during a session of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education, where KNEC CEO David Njengere and Basic Education Principal Secretary John Ololtuaa confirmed that funds had been released for clearing outstanding dues.
PS Ololtuaa stated: "The Ministry has already disbursed the funds to KNEC, and payments to examination personnel will begin on August 6."
The pending allowances are owed to invigilators, supervisors, and other personnel involved in administering the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), and Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) exams.
Union Concerns and Payment Delays
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) had threatened to boycott the 2026 national exams if the outstanding payments were not settled. The union has highlighted that many teachers who served during the 2025 exam cycle have yet to receive their allowances, despite earlier confirmation from Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi that funds had been released.
KUPPET also indicated that KNEC requires an additional Sh4 billion to fully clear all outstanding payments owed to exam officials.
The resolution to start payments aims to address these concerns ahead of the 2026 examination cycle, ensuring that examination personnel are compensated timely for their services.
