NAIROBI, Kenya — National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has ruled out releasing additional funds to pay Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) examiners, insisting the Treasury has already disbursed all budgeted funds to the Ministry of Education.
Speaking during an interview on Ramogi TV on Wednesday, May 13, Mbadi said teachers seeking payment for examination duties should direct their concerns to the Education Ministry.
“Regarding the disbursement of funds meant for the national examination council, teachers should ask the Ministry of Education. We already disbursed the budget allocated to the Ministry of Education,” Mbadi said.
“If it is inadequate to pay the KNEC contracting professionals, then there is no additional allocation for it since we already disbursed what Parliament approved for the education sector.”
Contradictory Ministry Position
Mbadi’s stance contradicts assurances from Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, who on May 5 in Uasin Gishu said the ministry was working with Treasury to fast-track payments “soon.”
Bitok said the matter had been escalated to President William Ruto, who directed the Treasury to provide money for teacher payments.
“I went to the State House to request the support of President William Ruto on teachers’ payments. He called the Treasury, directing them to provide money for the payment of teachers as soon as possible. I want to assure teachers that they will be paid in the next few weeks, before the end of this month,” Bitok said.
Chronic Delays
The Ministry of Education confirmed in February that it had formally requested the Treasury to release required funds. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, on February 12, said delays arose from budgetary and cash-flow constraints.
“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,” Ogamba said.
Funding Gap
The education sector received Sh 702.7 billion for the 2025/26 financial year, including Sh 5.9 billion for national examination administration.
Last May, Parliament approved Sh 5.9 billion for KNEC, short of the required Sh 12.58 billion. Treasury later provided an additional Sh 3.1 billion to bridge the deficit.
Personnel Numbers
A total of 107,447 personnel supported the 2025 national examinations, including examiners, Ministry of Education and TSC officials, security officers, supervisors, invigilators, and centre managers.
About 45,000 examiners handling KCSE and KJSEA are owed approximately Sh 2.7 billion, with delays stretching into May.
For KCSE, KNEC contracted 22,247 security officers, 54,782 invigilators, 12,126 supervisors, and 10,765 centre managers, plus 2,692 drivers for logistics.
For KPSEA and KJSEA, the council enlisted 125,492 invigilators, 26,479 supervisors, and 24,213 centre managers, with security personnel assigned primarily to escort materials and guard containers in high-risk areas.
