KNEC CEO David Njegere. /FILE
The Kenya National Examinations Council has dismissed as misleading social media reports alleging that it lacks funds to pay examiners and is instead prioritising staff salaries and loan obligations.
The widely circulated post claimed to quote KNEC chief executive officer David Njengere as saying: “We do not have cash to pay examiners and invigilators for now. The little we have is to pay salaries and loans.”
In a response, the council clarified that while it is facing financial constraints that have delayed payments to contracted personnel, the statement attributed to its CEO is false and does not reflect its official position.
“While we acknowledge that we owe examiners and other contracted professionals, and the Education Cabinet Secretary issued a statement to the effect that the Ministry is working with Treasury to settle the outstanding dues, the statement attributed to our CEO is misleading. Please refer to the CS’s official statement,” KNEC said.
The council reiterated its commitment to honouring all contractual obligations signed with examiners, invigilators, supervisors and other personnel engaged in administering and marking the 2025 national examinations and assessments.
The scale of the exercise underscores the magnitude of the pending payments. For the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, KNEC contracted 22,247 security officers, 54,782 invigilators, 12,126 supervisors and 10,765 centre managers.
In addition, 2,692 drivers were engaged to support logistics, including the transportation of examination materials and personnel, especially in remote, hard-to-reach examination centres.
For the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), security personnel were primarily assigned to escort examination materials and guard containers in identified high-risk areas, rather than being stationed at every centre.
In contrast, KCSE centres had at least two security officers each, while the council enlisted 125,492 invigilators, 26,479 supervisors and 24,213 centre managers for KPSEA and KJSEA.
Overall, nearly 45,000 teachers were engaged to mark the examinations.
In the 2025-26 financial year budget, the government allocated Sh702.7 billion to the education sector, with Sh5.9 billion set aside specifically for the administration of national examinations and assessments.
Despite the large allocation, many contracted officials were still awaiting payment as of March 2026, fuelling frustration and public debate. Some affected individuals even suggested that the council consider settling dues in instalments.
“It is now time we allow KNEC to pay us using Lipa mdogo mdogo method. Walimu hawana fare ya kuenda nyumbani (Teachers don’t even have fare to go home),” one examiner lamented.
The Ministry of Education acknowledged the concerns, terming them legitimate. On February 12, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the delays were a result of broader budgetary and cash flow constraints affecting the release of funds.
“The delays in disbursement of allowances have arisen from budgetary and cash flow constraints currently affecting the release of funds. We wish to assure all affected professionals that payment remains a priority,” Ogamba said.
He noted that the ministry was working closely with the National Treasury to resolve the issue and expedite the release of the required funds.
The government, he added, recognises the critical role played by contracted teachers, security personnel and other staff in safeguarding the integrity, credibility and timely administration of national examinations.
In the meantime, the ministry has appealed for patience from those affected, while reiterating its commitment to ensuring more timely payments in future examination cycles.
“Further updates will be communicated as appropriate,” Ogamba said.
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