The Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) has finally received close to 1 billion shillings from the National Treasury for paying 2025 contracted professionals.
This is after the matter went to Parliament this week with Knec required to furnish details on why teachers and other professionals cannot be paid for the work done long after the exam results were released.
Raising the issue at the National Assembly, Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba, who is also the Kuppet chairperson stated that Knec has had a recurring pattern of delaying payment that disrupts teachers livelihoods, strain their families and steadily erodes morale within the education sector.
In October 2025, Knec engaged nearly 77,600 teachers for the administration of the national exams and assessments.
About 30,000 teachers worked for KCSE exams, 15,000 for KJSEA and the rest for KPSEA to undertake the critical national duty of marking and managing examinations.
“They worked long hours, under intense pressure and away from their families to safeguard the integrity of our education system,” said Milemba.
“Months later, approximately sh 2.7 billion owed to these teachers remains unpaid. Supervisors, invigilators, centre managers and marking centres are also yet to receive their dues”.
Milemba had requested a statement from Chairperson of the Departmental Committee on Education to clarify on why Knec has delayed in paying teachers their dues.
On 12th February, CS Education, Julius Ogamba, in a press statement promised swift action to ensure the payment issue is resolved.
However two weeks later teachers have nothing to smile about. Ogamba said the delays in disbursement of allowances have arisen from budgetary and cash flow constraints affecting the release of funds.
“We wish to assure all affected professionals that payment remains a priority. The Ministry, in collaboration with the National Treasury is actively working to resolve the matter and expedite the release of the requisite funds within the shortest time possible,” said Ogamba.
Each year Knec contracts professionals who assist in the national exercise. They include teachers, drivers and security personnel.
Though Knec does not pay for services rendered by teachers in exam centres, it reimburses transport fares after national exams are concluded, marked and results released to the public.
KPSEA results which were the last assessment awaited to be released to allow payment to teachers are already out.
Knec has been under pressure yearly for delaying payment of invigilation dues to teachers.
In November last year the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) secretary general, Collins Oyuu, warned against delays in paying teachers.
Oyuu asked Knec to pay teachers their dues by January warning that payment delays will not be tolerated.
Speaking from Opodo farm in Bondo during a condolence visit to the Odinga family, Oyuu said delayed payment demoralizes teachers who safeguard national exams.
“What they pay to teachers is not even allowance, is not even salary. What they pay is what we call honoraria. And Knec has a budget. Our big question is; Why delay paying teachers honoraria after sacrificing to do that work. Invigilating exams is not easy,” said Oyuu.
He called on Knec to start payment of exam invigilators immediately after conclusion of national exams.
Some teachers have previously complained to the Council after missing payment when payment of dues was done.
Knec says the delays are mostly due to data mismatches and documentation.
“Delays have in some cases been linked to data mismatches, documentation requirements (such as properly signed and stamped attendance registers), and verification processes necessary for accurate payment disbursement. We urge those affected to confirm that their details in the Contracted Professionals (CP2) system match their official identification and mobile money registration information to facilitate processing,” said Knec.
Knec has previously listed possible reasons why some teachers miss payment and the remedy for this.
Reason 1
Name mismatch: The CP2 name and M-Pesa name of the phone number provided do not match.
Solution
Create a new CP2 account with a registered Safaricom (M-Pesa) number matching your ID details.
Reason 2
Missing ID number or TSC/PF number
Solution
Login to the CP2 portal and update your details with the correct data.
Reason 3
Missing documentation (Attendance registers were not submitted or were submitted but lack official stamps and signatures).
Solution
Centre managers to download the attendance registers from the CP2 portal, verify the details, sign, stamp and submit them to the Sub-County Director of Education (SCDE), who will forward the updated documents to KNEC.
Reason 4
Contracted professionals who worked but were not deployed in the CP2 portal.
Solution
Contact your SCDE and register your query for onward submission to KNEC. Include the following: Year invigilated or supervised Exam invigilated or supervised Code of centre invigilated or supervised Name of officer Role in the exam/assessment centre, Safaricom M-pesa number that matches your ID details.
Reason 5
Slow response to KNEC requests for facilitation of data and/or late delivery of accurate and complete Contracted Professionals’ data.
Solution
KNEC processes complete and accurate data as it is received. Clean up your data and resend through the SCDE.
KPSEA INVIGILATORS
sh 550 per day for 3 days equals sh 1,680
KJSEA INVIGILATORS
sh 550 per day for 6 days equals sh 3,300
KPSEA & KJSEA SUPERVISORS
sh 680 per day for 6 days equals sh 4,080
KCSE SUPERVISORS
sh 680 per day for 16 days equals sh 10,880
KCSE INVIGILATORS
sh 550 per day for 16 days equals sh 8,800
CENTRE MANAGERS
sh 550 per day for KPSEA and KJSEA and KCSE