The Kenya National Examinations Council has started releasing funds under a phased payment plan to clear arrears owed to contracted professionals who worked on the 2025 national examinations. This update explains what has been paid, who is still waiting, common reasons for delayed payments and clear steps teachers and centre managers should take to receive their exam allowances.
Key Takeaways
- KNEC payments are being released in phases due to budget constraints; some groups have already received funds.
- Security officers, drivers, TTC and TVET supervisors were among the first to be paid.
- About Sh1.5 billion is needed to settle all outstanding claims for 2025 contracted professionals.
- Common “payment killers” include name mismatches, missing ID/TSC numbers, incomplete documentation and non-deployment in the CP2 portal.
- Teachers should verify CP2 details, correct M-Pesa names, and work with Sub-County Directors to resubmit clean data.
KNEC payments: who has been paid and who is still waiting
KNEC has prioritized payments to certain groups while processing the rest as funds become available. Already paid: security personnel, drivers, tutors and teachers who supervised Teacher Training College (TTC) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) assessments. Remaining unpaid groups include invigilators, supervisors, centre managers and examiners for national assessments.
The Council estimates roughly Sh1.5 billion is required to fully clear all outstanding claims from the 2025 exam cycle. Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok says he raised the issue at State House and expects further disbursements in the coming weeks.
Common payment issues and how to fix them
KNEC has identified several technical and administrative problems that block payments. Below are the main issues and practical solutions you can implement immediately.
- Name mismatch: The CP2 account name and the M-Pesa name attached to the phone number do not match.
Solution: Create or update your CP2 account so the registered Safaricom (M-Pesa) number matches your ID name exactly. - Missing ID or TSC/PF number: Payments fail if these identifiers are absent.
Solution: Log in to the CP2 portal and update your profile with the correct ID and TSC/PF numbers. - Missing or unsigned documentation: Attendance registers not submitted, or submitted without stamps/signatures.
Solution: Centre managers must download attendance registers, verify entries, sign, stamp and forward them to the Sub-County Director of Education (SCDE) for onward submission to KNEC. - Not deployed in CP2: Some contracted staff worked but were not recorded in the portal.
Solution: Contact your SCDE, register a formal query for submission to KNEC, and include year, exam name, centre code, role and a Safaricom number that matches your ID name. - Late or inaccurate data: Slow response to KNEC requests delays processing.
Solution: Clean up records, ensure accuracy and resend through the SCDE promptly.
Allowance rates for contracted exam staff
Below are the commonly paid rates for different roles during the 2025 assessments:
- KPSEA invigilators: Sh 550 per day for 3 days = Sh 1,680
- KJSEA invigilators: Sh 550 per day for 6 days = Sh 3,300
- KPSEA & KJSEA supervisors: Sh 680 per day for 6 days = Sh 4,080
- KCSE supervisors: Sh 680 per day for 16 days = Sh 10,880
- KCSE invigilators: Sh 550 per day for 16 days = Sh 8,800
- Centre managers: Sh 550 per day (for KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE)
What to do if you are still unpaid
If you have not received payment, follow these steps:
- Confirm your CP2 profile details and M-Pesa name match your ID.
- Check that your ID number and TSC/PF number are correctly entered.
- Ask your centre manager to verify attendance registers and ensure they were signed, stamped and forwarded by the SCDE.
- Request your SCDE to submit a formal query to KNEC including: year, exam title, centre code, your role and your correct Safaricom number.
- Keep written proof of queries and any correspondence with the SCDE or KNEC.
Resources and further help
For teachers preparing for or supervising national exams, official past papers, curriculum designs and revision materials can help with planning and marking. Useful resources on related exam preparation include KCSE revision exams and materials, past KCPE papers at KCPE past exams, and CBC exam resources at CBC exam resources.
Final notes
The phased release of funds by KNEC is a positive step, but timely payment depends on accurate data and fast coordination between contracted professionals, centre managers and Sub-County Directors. Verify your CP2 details now, resolve any documentation gaps and follow up through the SCDE so your KNEC payments are processed without further delay.
