In a move that has stirred debate across the country, Kenyan lawmakers have approved a Sh5.9 billion budget to fund national examinations for 2025.
The money, approved this week by Parliament’s Budget and Appropriations Committee, will go to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to prepare and administer the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), and other national assessments.
“This is about securing the integrity of our examination system,” said Ndindi Nyoro, chair of the committee. “We are making sure every child has a fair shot, regardless of their background.”
The funds will cover printing, logistics, supervision, and payment for examiners. But critics say the allocation highlights a deeper problem: ballooning education costs in a struggling economy.
A Strained System
Kenya’s education sector is under increasing pressure. Teachers face shortages, school infrastructure is stretched, and many parents are struggling to keep up with school fees even in public institutions meant to be free.
“The issue is not just exams,” said Janet Muthoni Ouko, founder of the education advocacy group Tunza Mtoto. “We need classrooms, textbooks, trained teachers. But the exam budget keeps growing while other areas are neglected.”
In 2024, KNEC struggled with delayed payments to examiners and logistical hiccups in remote areas. The Treasury had released funds late, forcing the Council to rely on credit from suppliers.
This year’s allocation, though higher than previous years, may still fall short if delays persist or if the number of candidates increases sharply.
“We can’t keep firefighting every year,” Ouko added. “We need long-term planning.”
Political Divide
In Parliament, the debate was divided. Supporters of the budget increase said national exams are a cornerstone of Kenya’s merit-based education system. Without proper funding, they warned, the credibility of results could suffer.
“This is not a luxury,” said Education Committee member Julius Melly. “We’ve seen what happens when the exams are mismanaged. The whole system comes under question.”
But others questioned the government’s spending priorities.
“We have children learning under trees,” said Homa Bay MP Millie Odhiambo. “We must ask whether our focus is on real learning or just ranking students.”
The Road Ahead
As the exam calendar approaches, schools are bracing for more candidates. The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), now in its final rollout phase, also brings new assessment demands that require more money and oversight.
KNEC, meanwhile, has welcomed the budget boost but is pushing for timely disbursement.
“Our biggest challenge has always been late funding,” said KNEC CEO David Njeng’ere during a press briefing. “This time, we hope to start early and avoid last-minute chaos.”
Education remains one of the most politically sensitive issues in Kenya. With exams seen as a key measure of student and school performance, the government faces a balancing act between fairness, access, and the rising cost of assessment.
Whether this year’s Sh5.9 billion will be enough or wisely spent remains to be seen. But as students prepare for another round of high-stakes testing, one thing is clear: the spotlight on Kenya’s exam system isn’t going away anytime soon.
