By Andrew Mbuva
Members of the National Assembly Education Committee were left stunned after it emerged that the 2025/26 national budget had allocated zero funds for the administration of national examinations, including the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KEPSEA), and Junior Secondary School (JSS) assessments.
The revelation came during a session where Education Principal Secretary Dr. Julius Bitok appeared before the Committee to defend his ministry’s budget estimates. However, he struggled to explain the glaring omission of funds for exam preparation, invigilation, and administration.
Committee Chairperson Hon. Julius Melly (Tinderet) led a chorus of concern, questioning how such a critical component in the education calendar could be entirely overlooked.
“Exams are a routine and essential part of the academic year,” Melly said. “Summative assessments must happen annually. How can a budget be presented without even a shilling allocated for examinations? And where is the CEO of KNEC to explain this?”
Narok MP Rebecca Tonkei questioned the Ministry’s seriousness in planning, noting, “This is an annual event. The absence of exam funding is inexcusable.”
Nyamira MP Jerusha Momanyi took a firmer stance: “Is the Treasury trying to scrap national exams, or are they now pushing parents to foot the bill? What is going on with our children’s future?”
The Committee also raised alarm over the lack of enforcement of a 2023 presidential directive requiring schools to release withheld certificates for learners with fee arrears. Hon. Mary Emaase (Teso South) lamented that many schools continue to defy the directive, blocking young people from accessing further education or employment opportunities.
In response, PS Bitok acknowledged there were significant funding gaps and promised to engage the National Treasury and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) urgently.
“We understand the seriousness of this issue and are in talks with the Treasury to find a solution,” Bitok assured.
But National Treasury official Nehemiah Odera struggled to justify the situation, especially in the wake of a massive Ksh.62 billion cut to the education sector.
The Committee, unsatisfied with the explanations provided, has now demanded a revised budget and summoned KNEC officials to appear before them and clarify how examinations will proceed without dedicated funding.
