The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has directed teachers across the country to boycott invigilation and marking of the 2026 national examinations over delayed payment of exam arrears amounting to KSh1.5 billion.
The union says the boycott will remain in place until teachers who supervised and marked the 2025 national examinations are fully paid.
KUPPET National Chairperson Omboko Milemba accused the government of frustrating teachers by delaying payments for more than a year despite the services already being rendered.
“Teachers have rendered their services, and it is a violation of labour rights to keep them waiting for over a year for their pay,” Milemba said.
The confrontation has brought to light an increasingly contentious issue between the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury concerning accountability over the unpaid arrears.
Previously, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok had told teachers that the outstanding arrears would be settled by the month of May after talks with President William Ruto.
But Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi of the Treasury had rejected allegations that the Treasury was withholding the funds, arguing that all allocations to the education sector were already paid out.
“On the disbursements of funds for national examination council, teachers can ask the Ministry of Education. We have already done our job and we disbursed the allocation made by Parliament to the education sector,” Mbadi said.
He added that there was no additional allocation available beyond what Parliament had approved.
The dispute comes even after the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) reportedly received KSh9.9 billion for the administration of the 2026 national examinations.
Teachers have raised concerns that other contracted professionals involved in the exam process, including supervisors, TVET examiners, drivers and security personnel, have already been paid while classroom teachers remain unpaid.
The latest directive by KUPPET now raises uncertainty over the administration of this year’s national examinations if the standoff is not resolved in the coming days.
“Until a clear consensus is reached and the money is in their accounts, there will be no invigilation or marking of this year’s exams,” Milemba said.
The boycott threat is expected to pile pressure on the government as schools prepare for the national examination period later this year.
