The government has cleared the outstanding marking allowances owed to examiners who marked the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
In a statement issued on Thursday, July 9, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced that the balance of the marking allowances has been disbursed to the respective accounts of all eligible examiners by the Kenya National Examinations Council.
According to the CS, the payment was made after the National Treasury released KSh1.5 billion to facilitate the settlement of the outstanding balance.
CS Ogamba Confirms Payment of 2025 KCSE, KJSEA Examiners After Treasury Releases KSh1.5 Billion
He revealed that the funds were released by the National Treasury on July 7, 2026, paving the way for KNEC to complete the payments.
“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.
“This disbursement follows the receipt of Ksh. 1.5 billion from the National Treasury on 7th July, 2026, being the allocation for clearing the balance.”
The Cabinet Secretary also commended examiners and other professionals contracted during the national examination process for their patience and dedication despite the delay in the payment of their dues.
“We commend the examiners and other contracted professionals for their professionalism, patience and continued commitment to fostering quality and credibility in our national assessments and examinations,” he said.
The payment brings to an end months of uncertainty for thousands of examiners who had been awaiting the settlement of the remaining balance for their work in marking the 2025 national examinations.
Mbadi Had Pledged to Fast-Track Examiners’ Payments
The latest payment fulfills a commitment made by Treasury CS John Mbadi earlier this year to clear the long-pending dues owed to examiners.
Speaking during a teachers’ gathering in Homa Bay on May 30, Mbadi said he had held consultations with the Ministry of Education and directed that the payment be fast-tracked within the current budget framework.
According to the Treasury CS, the funds had initially been scheduled for release in the 2026/2027 financial year, but the government decided to expedite the payment to address the long-standing grievances raised by teachers who participated in marking the 2025 national examinations.
“I know we had the plan to put it in the budget, the budget that we are processing now, but I want to give you my commitment here. I have already spoken with the CS at the Ministry of Education. I have told him that I am waiting for his letter on Wednesday to approve KSh1.5 billion to pay teachers so that this matter ceases to be controversial,” Mbadi said.
He emphasized that the issue had persisted for too long and needed to be resolved without further delays.
“This matter must end. We must respect our teachers, and I will lead by example,” he added.
Also Read: “Where Is the Money?” Frustrated Examiners Cry Foul Over KNEC Pay Delays
More Than 107,000 Personnel Took Part in 2025 National Exams
The payments bring relief to thousands of professionals who took part in administering the 2025 national examinations.
More than 107,000 personnel were engaged in the exercise, including examiners, officials from the Ministry of Education and the Teachers Service Commission, security officers, supervisors, invigilators and centre managers.
At the time the payment delays came to light, about 45,000 KCSE and KJSEA examiners were awaiting approximately KSh2.7 billion in unpaid marking allowances.
For the 2025 KCSE examinations alone, KNEC deployed 22,247 security officers, 54,782 invigilators, 12,126 supervisors and 10,765 centre managers. Another 2,692 drivers were contracted to transport examination materials and personnel, particularly to remote and hard-to-reach centres.
For the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), security personnel were mainly assigned to escort examination materials and guard storage containers in identified high-risk areas instead of being stationed at every examination centre.
In addition, KNEC engaged 125,492 invigilators, 26,479 supervisors and 24,213 centre managers to oversee the administration of KPSEA and KJSEA examinations.
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