The government has allocated Ksh9.9 billion to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to support national examinations and invigilation in the 2026/2027 financial year.
The money will help cater for major national assessments including KPSEA, KJSEA, KCPE and KCSE exams.
The new allocation is higher than the Ksh5.9 billion that had been set aside for examinations in the previous financial year.
Despite the absence of details from the Treasury, hints about change in the way the exam funding would be conducted were made by Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi ahead of the new development.
According to him, there could be changes in the way the government is conducting exam funding. He suggested that funding should primarily cater for learners enrolled in public institutions who could not afford exam fees rather than paying all exam candidates irrespective of the type of institution they hail from.
The recent fund has come against the backdrop of the fact that many teachers and contracted individuals who helped conduct the exams have been left unpaid.
Payment delays have been among the leading issues that teachers raised in recent nationwide demonstrations over work-related issues.
Education officials said they have blamed delay in payments to financial problems in the country.
Last month, the government treasury allocated Ksh1.5 billion to KNEC to facilitate the beginning of payment.
Payments have begun and are being conducted in phases.
The Basic Education Principal Secretary, Julius Bitok, said payments are being made in phases owing to insufficient finances.
Currently, there are plans to prioritize teachers taking part in Teacher Training College assessment as well as TVET assessments, and also the drivers and security personnel who played roles in the examination process.
On the other hand, there are many teachers who acted as invigilators, supervisors, examiners, and center managers, but who have not been paid.
KNEC has promised to clear up any dues outstanding from these teachers by May.
