National Treasury Cabinet Secretary (CS) John Mbadi defended the government’s decision to waive the exam fee. Speaking on May 24, Mbadi said some parents will be required to pay for their children’s national examination fees from 2026.
He explained that the government is reviewing the process of paying the exam fee.
According to Mbadi, capable parents will pay the fee as the government caters for those from poor backgrounds.
“We have to review the cost and ask ourselves why we should pay the examination fee for all students, including those in private schools. We should be subsidising examinations for those who cannot afford them, especially in public schools. So, there is a whole question of reviewing the concept of paying for examination fees,” Mbadi said.
Mbadi clarified that there is a budget in place for this year after concerns that the government had not set aside money for exams.
“There should be no panic, no worry that there is no money for examinations. There will be money for examinations, only that we are changing the system and structure,” he stated.
He stated that the government will make sure there are adequate funds for examination once the review is concluded.
Mbadi said the government is trying to find out why it costs so much to do the examinations.
Mbadi on Restructuring the Subsidy
The CS said the government cannot continue subsidizing the fee for wealthy Kenyans like CSs.
“But when you look at the restructuring, the Ministry of Education will look at why we should pay for those who can pay. Like today, if my child is doing KCSE, the government pays for that child, and as a child of a CS, why should that be the case?” Mbadi asked.
He added that the government is concerned about the beneficiaries of the waiver and cannot afford to subsidize people who don’t need the subsidy.
“So, we want to look at the whole question of who should be paid for. And that we will do for the next year’s examination. For this year, it is too late. We are going to process examination for all the students, whether you are able or you are not able,” Mbadi stated.
Also Read: KNEC Opens Applications for Examiner Training Ahead of 2025 Exams
How Govt Will Select Beneficiaries
Mbadi said the Ministry of Education must come up with criteria of identifying those who can pay examination fees.
For example, he said parents with children in a private school where they pay up to Ksh1 million yearly, which he says is proof that they should pay the examination fee.
He said such parents should not force Kenyan taxpayers, some of whom can barely make a living, to pay examination fees for their child.
Mbadi explained that the responsibility of the government is to ensure that all children get basic education.
He wondered why such parents can pay huge fees but surrender that responsibility to the government when it comes to examination.
“What I’m saying is that those who can afford it will afford or should afford to pay examination fees,” he said.
“But it should be understood that there is no body called the government with resources. The government uses the resources of Kenyans.”
Also Read: Treasury CS John Mbadi Responds to Concerns of Job Losses After Finance Bill 2025
Printing Exams Outside
Further, Mbadi criticized the printing of examinations in foreign countries when passports are printed locally.
“We print passports here. Why would you take examinations out to be printed? Passports are even more security sensitive documents, but you are printing them locally,” he said.
He said the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) can use the government printer to print examinations.
Mbadi explained that KNEC will only need to do is to provide clear security checks and safety of those examinations.
He pointed out that the security is still compromised even when the exams are printed out of the country, leading to leakages.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
