Thousands of instructors, examiners, supervisors, invigilators, and center administrators are still waiting for their allowances, and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has described the procedure that must be followed before contracted professionals are paid.
Information provided to education stakeholders indicated that the national budget’s recent ratification represented a significant turning point in the payment procedure.
However, the release of funds to KNEC by the National Treasury remains the next critical step before any payments can be processed.
Once the Treasury releases the funds, KNEC begins a detailed verification exercise to confirm payment records and ensure that all contracted professionals who participated in national examination activities are accurately captured in the system.
The council then prepares payment batches and processes the allowances for disbursement through M-Pesa, which has become the preferred mode of payment for contracted personnel.
Education stakeholders indicate that the entire process may take between two and four weeks after the funds are received, depending on the speed of Treasury disbursement and internal verification procedures.
The explanation comes amid growing concern among thousands of contracted professionals who have been waiting for their payments following the completion of examination duties.
Many have called for quicker processing, noting that the allowances are an important source of income and compensation for services rendered during the administration and marking of national examinations.
Stakeholders have urged the National Treasury and KNEC to expedite the remaining stages of the process to ensure that teachers and other contracted professionals receive their dues without unnecessary delays.
KNEC relies on contracted personnel across the country to facilitate the successful administration of national examinations, making timely payment a key component of supporting the education sector and maintaining confidence in the examination process.