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The 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams were successfully conducted, but months later, exam officials—including invigilators, supervisors, and examiners—are yet to receive their payments. This delay has caused frustration among teachers, prompting Members of Parliament (MPs) to intervene and demand accountability from the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) and the Ministry of Education.
Why Are Payments Delayed?
According to KNEC, financial constraints have contributed to the delay in disbursing payments to examiners and supervisors. However, MPs have questioned why such challenges persist, given that exam budgets are allocated well in advance. The delay has also raised concerns about the government’s commitment to honoring contracts with teachers and other education stakeholders.
Parliament Steps In
During a parliamentary session, lawmakers expressed disappointment over KNEC’s handling of payments, emphasizing that teachers played a crucial role in ensuring the KCSE exams ran smoothly. They have now demanded that the Ministry of Education provide a clear timeline for settling the outstanding dues.
Some MPs have proposed that future examination budgets include stricter policies to guarantee timely payments, preventing similar delays in subsequent years.
Examiners and Teachers Demand Action
KCSE examiners and supervisors have voiced their frustrations, with many saying that they sacrificed their time and resources to oversee the national exams, yet they are struggling to receive their rightful compensation. Teachers’ unions, including the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), have also joined in, pressuring the government to expedite the payments.
Social media platforms have been flooded with complaints from examiners, with some threatening to boycott future exams if the issue is not resolved urgently. One frustrated teacher captured the mood perfectly, stating:
“We have until 31/3/2025 to register KCSE candidates for the next national examination. We shall invigilate, supervise, and go ahead to mark the same. Then a new dawn, January 2026, and the blame game continues.”
This statement reflects a growing concern among educators that delayed payments have become a cycle that repeats itself each year, with no concrete solutions from the government.
What Happens Next?
With Parliament now involved, there is hope that KNEC will release the payments soon. MPs have vowed to hold the Ministry of Education accountable, ensuring that funds are disbursed without further delays. KNEC officials are expected to present a report on the payment status, and further parliamentary action may follow if the issue remains unresolved.
Final Thoughts
The delay in paying KCSE exam officials highlights a recurring problem that needs urgent intervention. Teachers and examiners dedicate their time to ensuring the credibility of national exams, and they deserve timely compensation for their work. The government and KNEC must act swiftly to resolve this issue and implement long-term solutions to prevent similar delays in the future.
We will continue to monitor this story and provide updates as new developments emerge.
