Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has announced that the government will release KSh1.5 billion to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) before July to settle pending payments owed to teachers and examiners involved in the administration of the 2025 national examinations.
The commitment comes amid mounting pressure from teachers who have for months demanded payment of allowances earned during the marking and administration of national examinations.
Speaking at a teachers’ gathering in Homa Bay County on Saturday, May 30, Mbadi said he had already engaged officials from the Ministry of Education and instructed that the matter be treated as a priority despite the funds initially being scheduled for allocation in the upcoming 2026/27 financial year.
According to the Treasury CS, the government had reconsidered its earlier plans following consultations with education officials, paving the way for an earlier release of the funds to address teachers’ long-standing grievances.
“I know we had the plan to put it in the budget that we are processing now, but I want to give you my commitment here. I have already spoken with the CS at the Ministry of Education. I have told him that I am waiting for his letter on Wednesday to approve KSh1.5 billion to pay teachers so that this matter ceases to be controversial,” Mbadi told the gathering.
The Treasury boss acknowledged the frustrations experienced by teachers and examiners, insisting that the issue had lingered for too long and required immediate intervention from the government.
“This matter must end. We must respect our teachers, and I will lead by example,” he said.
Mbadi further revealed that he would formally brief President William Ruto on the decision, describing it as part of his constitutional responsibility to oversee and manage public finances.
“I am going to inform the President that the power that you gave me to control and manage resources on your behalf, I have made a decision with the teachers that we pay them KSh1.5 billion,” he added.
The announcement is likely to be welcomed by thousands of teachers who participated in the marking and administration of the 2025 national examinations and have repeatedly complained about delayed payments.
The payment dispute sparked growing discontent within the education sector, with some teachers threatening industrial action and warning that prolonged delays could disrupt learning activities in schools across the country.
KNEC had previously indicated that it lacked the KSh1.5 billion required to clear the outstanding allowances, prompting calls for urgent intervention from the National Treasury.
The latest pledge also follows earlier assurances from the Ministry of Education that efforts were underway to begin clearing the pending arrears.
Under the planned payment schedule, teachers involved in Teacher Training College (TTC) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) assessments are expected to be among the first beneficiaries. Security personnel and drivers who supported the examination process have also been prioritised as part of a phased approach to settle the outstanding claims.
The government’s latest move is expected to ease tensions within the education sector and bring to an end a payment dispute that has dominated discussions among teachers and education stakeholders in recent months.
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