Kenyan union tells teachers to skip KNEC exam duty as KCSE practicals start 19 October

The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has told its members not to take up exam duties for the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) until their pay for the work is agreed. Oral and practical papers of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) are due to start on 19 October. More than 3.6 million candidates are preparing for national assessments that include the KCSE, the Daily Nation reported on 17 October. A total of 1,048,355 candidates have registered for the KCSE, up from 996,078 last year.

The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) wants urgent talks between KNEC and the union, which is seeking better pay for teachers who supervise, invigilate and mark exams and better working conditions for exam staff, the Kenyan news site Education News reported on 17 October.

KUPPET Secretary-General Akelo Misori has called on members not to accept exam assignments until pay is agreed. "We are asking our members to sit back and not participate in any exam conducted by the Kenya National Examination Council," he said, as quoted by the Nation. The union wants a minimum of KSh 4,000 a day for supervisors and related officials and at least KSh 100 for marking each paper.

Current rates are KSh 630 to KSh 680 a day for supervisors, KSh 500 to KSh 550 for centre managers and KSh 430 to KSh 510 for invigilators. Marking pays KSh 35 to KSh 75 a script. KUPPET has also raised concerns over accommodation and welfare at marking centres, including reports of overcrowded dormitories.

The Nation reported on 14 October that KUPPET's National Governing Council had met and that the union was concerned about how KNEC handled members' grievances. Misori said: "Today we put Knec on notice and it will not be business as usual in the year 2026. We shall ensure that we paralyse the examination management in the entire year 2026."

Misori compared examiners' pay with that of building workers: "Even construction workers on site who are unskilled are paid at least Sh700 by the end of the day." He called the rates a mockery of the teaching profession.

KUPPET Deputy Secretary-General Moses Nthurima told teachers to keep away from KNEC activities "until they call us and discuss better terms for them". "For example, you find that a paper is being marked at Sh55," he said. "They are giving you a pocket allowance of Sh150, which was being given in 1990." He said supervisors were paid KSh 600.

On 7 July the National Treasury released KSh 1.5 billion to settle 2025 balances, and Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said two days later that KNEC had disbursed the money to examiners' accounts. KUPPET is now demanding broader assurances on terms and conditions of service. In a Nation report published on 17 October, KNEC Chief Executive Officer David Njeng'ere said the council's budget provisions are funded by the National Treasury and that the matter would require further consultations. Rates for centre managers, supervisors, invigilators and examiners are reviewed every four years and are due for review in 2027, he said.

KESSHA chairperson Willy Kuria had said earlier that school administrators had had to rely on suppliers' credit to meet essential costs. Schools say government capitation is inadequate and laboratory supplies cost more. In a separate Nation report the same day, Kuria said some schools were relying on suppliers to provide chemicals and equipment on credit, while others were turning to parents who were already struggling financially.

The Standard wrote on 4 October that KNEC and the Teachers Service Commission had begun preparations for deploying and briefing exam staff. KNEC's timetable sets the KCSE rehearsal for 16 October, oral and practical papers from 19 October, main written papers from 2 November and the last scheduled paper on 20 November. The first week's oral and practical papers include French, German, Arabic, Kenyan Sign Language and music.