The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has threatened to call a nationwide strike if the government fails to pay teachers who participated in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations and address concerns over the implementation of the Social Health Authority (SHA).

Speaking on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, KUPPET officials gave the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) a 14-day ultimatum to release pending payments to contracted professionals involved in the administration of the national examinations.

Murang’a County KUPPET Executive Secretary Thomas Kimani said teachers and other examination officials have waited for more than seven months despite the budget having already been approved.

“We have addressed the CEO of KNEC about the payments for all contracted professionals in the year 2025. Everybody was engaged: the supervisors, the invigilators, the centre managers, deputy centre managers, policemen and drivers,” Kimani said.

Same trend of delays

He noted that the delays date back to examination activities that began in April 2025 and extended through the October KCSE examinations.

“KNEC, it has been over seven months down the line. The budget was approved last month. Why is it that these teachers have to cry from up to down, and this issue has not been paid?” he posed.

Kimani warned that the union expects the payments to be made within the next two weeks.

“This money must be paid in the next 14 days. We are on the 30th of June, 2026,” he said.

KNEC addressing the delayed payments

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has acknowledged delays in payments to examiners and other contracted professionals, assuring that the government is taking steps to address the issue.

In a statement shared on its official X account on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, the examination body said it recognises the concerns raised by examiners over pending dues.

“While we acknowledge that we owe examiners and other contracted professionals, and the Education Cabinet Secretary issued a statement to the effect that the Ministry is working with Treasury to settle the outstanding dues”, the council said in part.

According to a February 12, 2026 press statement issued by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba, the government acknowledged “the legitimate concerns raised regarding the delayed payment of contracted professionals engaged in the administration and marking of 2025 National Examinations and Assessments.”

The ministry emphasised the critical role played by examiners, supervisors, invigilators and security personnel in ensuring the integrity of national examinations.

“The Ministry recognises the critical role played by the Supervisors & Invigilators, Security Personnel, Examiners and other Contracted Professionals in safeguarding the integrity, credibility, and timely delivery of National Assessments,” the statement read.