CS Mbadi Confirms Release of Long-Awaited Ksh1.5B to Clear 2025 KNEC Exam Arrears

Thousands of teachers who invigilated and marked the 2025 national examinations are set to receive their long-delayed payments after Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi confirmed that Ksh1.5 billion had been released to the Ministry of Education to clear the arrears.

Speaking during an interview, Mbadi said the funds were disbursed on Wednesday, June 1, and teachers can now expect to receive their money.

He added that the Treasury has now fulfilled a promise he made about a month ago to members of the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) in Homa Bay.

“Ksh1.5 billion was released today to the Ministry of Education to pay the arrears. I made that promise while I was in Homabay addressing KUPPET. That is sorted, they will get their money now,” he stated.

Despite earlier assurances that the Ksh1.5 billion had been set aside, many teachers remained skeptical because government officials had broken similar promises regarding payment.

In recent months, government officials, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Education CS Julius Ogamba and former Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok had assured teachers that they would be paid.

However, the official confirmation signals an end to the ongoing dispute between teachers and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) over delayed payments, with many having waited about seven months for their dues.

Teachers are now looking to the ministry alongside KNEC to operationalise the payment process, as they now have the budgetary capacity.

KNEC has advised teachers to ensure the details on their Contracted Professionals (CP2) portals are up-to-date to avoid any payment delays caused by inaccurate records.

Qualified secondary school teachers and college tutors have been invited to submit applications before the deadline on July 15. –Kenyans.co.ke.