Thousands of teachers who marked the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) examinations have started receiving their long-awaited allowances after the government released funds to clear outstanding arrears.
The payments follow the National Treasury's disbursement of Ksh1.5 billion to the Ministry of Education, ending months of uncertainty and easing tensions ahead of preparations for the 2026 national examinations.
The payments are expected to ease tensions with teachers and support smooth preparations for the 2026 national examinations.
Govt Releases Payment of 2025 KCSE and KJSEA Examiner Allowances
The government has begun paying teachers who marked the 2025 KCSE and KJSEA examinations.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced that the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has transferred the outstanding marking allowances to examiners' respective bank accounts.
The payments follow the release of Ksh1.5 billion by the National Treasury on July 7, 2026, to settle pending arrears owed to teachers and other contracted examination professionals.
The latest disbursement brings to an end months of uncertainty over delayed examiner payments.
Treasury Releases Ksh1.5 Billion
The National Treasury allocated Ksh1.5 billion specifically to clear unpaid examiner allowances.
According to the Ministry of Education, KNEC has already processed the payments and transferred the balances to beneficiaries.
Education CS Julius Ogamba confirmed that teachers who participated in marking the 2025 national examinations should receive the outstanding amounts in their bank accounts.
Payment Breakdown
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Beneficiaries | KCSE and KJSEA examiners |
| Funds released | Ksh1.5 billion |
| Disbursed by | National Treasury |
| Paying institution | Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) |
| Payment status | Processing completed |
Teachers Waited Nearly Seven Months
Thousands of teachers had waited about seven months to receive the outstanding balances.
The delays sparked frustration among examiners despite repeated government assurances that payment would be made.
Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi recently confirmed that the funds had finally been released to fulfill commitments made to teachers and their unions.
The payments are expected to restore confidence among contracted examination professionals.
Delays Triggered Boycott Threats
The prolonged delay had prompted strong opposition from the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET).
The union at one point directed its members to boycott the invigilation and marking of the 2026 national examinations until the outstanding arrears were settled.
Senior government officials, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, later assured teachers that payments would be processed once funding became available.
Timeline of Events
| Event | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Treasury releases Ksh1.5 billion | Funds allocated for examiner payments |
| KNEC processes payments | Allowances sent to bank accounts |
| Teachers receive balances | Outstanding arrears settled |
| 2026 examination preparations | Expected to proceed smoothly |
Focus Shifts to 2026 Examinations
With payments now underway, attention is shifting to preparations for the 2026 national examinations.
KNEC has already begun recruiting assessors for the 2026 KCSE oral and practical examinations.
Qualified secondary school teachers and college tutors have been invited to submit applications before the July 15 deadline.
The council has also advised examiners awaiting payment to verify their information on the Contracted Professionals (CP2) portal to prevent delays caused by incorrect banking details.
Payment Process
Treasury Releases Funds │ ▼ Ministry of Education │ ▼ KNEC Processes Payments │ ▼ Examiners Receive Allowances │ ▼ 2026 Exam Preparations Continue
The release of the long-awaited examiner allowances is expected to ease tensions between teachers and the government while strengthening preparations for the 2026 examination cycle.
With the payment backlog cleared, KNEC can now focus on recruiting assessors and organizing the next round of national assessments without the uncertainty that clouded the previous examination period.
