Teachers Begin Receiving Delayed KCSE, KJSEA Marking Allowances After Treasury Releases KSh1.5 Billion
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Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba |
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed on Thursday, July 9, that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had already transferred the outstanding balances to examiners' respective bank accounts. The announcement brought relief to teachers who had waited several months for the payments.
Treasury Releases KSh1.5 Billion
The latest payments come after the National Treasury released KSh1.5 billion to the Ministry of Education on July 7. The allocation specifically targeted unpaid marking allowances for teachers and other professionals contracted during the 2025 national examinations.
According to Ogamba, KNEC immediately began processing the payments after receiving the funds. The council has now completed the disbursement to eligible examiners through their registered bank accounts.
"We are pleased to inform all examiners who participated in the marking of the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination that the balance of their marking allowances has been disbursed to their respective accounts by the Kenya National Examinations Council," Ogamba said.
Teachers End Seven-Month Wait
The announcement ends months of uncertainty for thousands of teachers who had remained without their full allowances since completing the marking exercise. Many examiners had repeatedly questioned the prolonged delay despite several assurances from government officials.
The payments come nearly seven months after the completion of the examination marking exercise. During that period, teachers continued pressing the government to honor its financial obligations.
Several teachers had expressed frustration over the delays, arguing that they had completed their assignments within the agreed timelines. Others questioned why previous promises to settle the balances had failed to materialize.
Government Reaffirms Commitment
The government has maintained that it remained committed to settling all legitimate claims owed to contracted professionals. Officials attributed the delays to budgetary constraints that affected the timely release of funds.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi recently confirmed that the funds had finally been released to the Ministry of Education. He stated that the government had fulfilled a commitment made to members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
Mbadi explained that the allocation would specifically clear the pending arrears linked to the 2025 national examinations. His remarks ended speculation over whether the Treasury would eventually release the money.
Delayed Payments Triggered Boycott Threats
The prolonged delays had strained relations between teachers and education authorities. At one point, KUPPET directed its members to boycott the invigilation and marking of the 2026 national examinations unless the government cleared the outstanding allowances.
The union argued that teachers should not continue offering examination services while previous payments remained unsettled. The warning raised concerns over possible disruptions to preparations for the next examination cycle.
Senior government officials later stepped in to calm the situation. They assured teachers that the outstanding balances would be paid once the Treasury released the necessary funds.
Kindiki Also Assured Teachers
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also addressed the issue during previous engagements with teachers. He assured examiners that the government recognized their contribution to the education sector and would settle the pending allowances.
His remarks helped reassure teachers as discussions continued between education stakeholders and government agencies. The latest payments now fulfill those commitments made by senior leaders.
The release of the funds is expected to ease concerns among teachers ahead of the 2026 examination season. It also removes one of the major grievances that had dominated discussions within teachers' unions.
Preparations for 2026 Exams Continue
As payments continue reaching examiners, KNEC has already shifted focus to preparations for the next national examinations. The council recently invited qualified teachers and college tutors to apply as assessors for the 2026 KCSE oral and practical examinations.
Applications remain open until July 15. Successful applicants will participate in assessing practical and oral examination components before the written examinations commence later in the year.
The recruitment exercise forms part of KNEC's broader preparations aimed at ensuring smooth administration of the 2026 national examinations.
Teachers Asked to Verify Payment Details
Although KNEC has processed the payments, the council advised teachers who have not received their allowances to verify the information captured on their Contracted Professionals (CP2) portal. Incorrect banking details or personal information may delay the transfer of funds.
The council encouraged examiners to confirm that their account details remain accurate before raising complaints about delayed payments. This step will help resolve cases arising from incorrect payment information.
Teachers can also contact KNEC through the appropriate support channels if their payments fail to reflect despite having accurate records.
Relief Ahead of New Academic Activities
The settlement of the outstanding allowances comes at a critical time as schools continue preparing for upcoming national assessment activities. The payments are expected to improve relations between teachers and education authorities after months of uncertainty.
Education stakeholders also hope the move will encourage more qualified teachers to continue participating in national examination processes. Timely payment of contracted professionals remains one of the key issues affecting the smooth administration of examinations across the country.
With the outstanding balances now reaching examiners, attention is expected to shift fully toward preparations for the 2026 KCSE and KJSEA examinations as KNEC continues implementing its examination calendar.
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