The marking of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations has been thrown into disarray after hundreds of examiners downed their tools over delayed coordination allowances.
The strike, primarily affecting English Paper 2 markers at Mary Hills Girls’ High School, threatens to disrupt the timely release of results for nearly a million candidates.
More than 800 examiners, who began marking three weeks ago, staged demonstrations on Sunday, December 1, demanding their Ksh5,000 coordination allowance. They claim the government was supposed to pay these allowances within five days of their arrival at the marking centers on November 30, but three weeks later, many have yet to receive their dues.
“The agreement was that coordination allowances would be paid within five days of our arrival. Three weeks later, nothing has been paid,” an examiner stated. This delay has caused significant financial strain, forcing some teachers to cover their own upkeep costs.
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) acknowledged delays but stated they are working to ensure all examiners are paid. However, examiners at Mary Hills Girls’ High School, one of 40 official marking centers, have vowed not to resume work until their demands are met, bringing the marking process to a standstill.
Similar disputes over delayed payments plagued past KCSE marking exercises in 2021, 2022, and 2023, with teachers accusing authorities of ignoring a recurring problem.
The disruption comes at a critical juncture, as the KCSE marking is scheduled to conclude on Monday, December 15.
Any prolonged strike could jeopardize the Ministry of Education’s plan to release results in January 2026 for the 996,078 candidates who sat the exams.
This year’s cohort is one of the largest in recent history, adding pressure to the marking process.
