Nairobi, Kenya – February 1, 2025 – The Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC) has dismissed allegations circulating on social media that it has lost records of teachers who invigilated the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, leading to delayed payments.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday, February 1, KNEC flagged the viral claims as fake and misleading, urging the public to disregard them.
KNEC Denies Payment Delays Over ‘Missing’ Teacher Data
The allegations, which originated from a widely shared social media post, suggested that KNEC had misplaced critical details of contracted exam supervisors and invigilators. According to the false claims, this alleged data loss had stalled payments for the affected teachers.
Additionally, the post falsely attributed a statement to KNEC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Njengere, claiming he had admitted the data issues and asked teachers to be patient.
“We don’t have sufficient details of the teachers who invigilated the national exams—KNEC—to explain why it has not paid the frustrated tutors,” the viral post claimed.
However, KNEC swiftly moved to refute these claims, branding them as baseless and aimed at spreading misinformation. The council reassured teachers and the public that all payment processes were running smoothly as per their standard procedures.
Concerns Over KPSEA Attendance Registers Addressed
The fake post further alleged that KNEC was also facing challenges processing allowances for teachers involved in the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA). It suggested that the council had yet to receive duly signed and stamped attendance registers from exam centres.
According to the misleading information, KNEC had issued an urgent appeal to school heads, requesting them to send scanned copies of the documents to facilitate the payments.
“KNEC is yet to receive the duly signed and stamped attendance register for the 2024 KPSEA assessment. This is to kindly request that you send a scanned copy to si@knec.ac.ke to facilitate the processing of allowances of the contracted professionals who were attached to your centres,” the fake post alleged.
However, KNEC categorically denied these claims, stating that such communication had not been issued by the council. It urged stakeholders to rely only on official KNEC channels for accurate information.
KNEC Reassures Teachers on Payment Process
The misinformation sparked widespread concern among teachers who participated in exam supervision and marking, with many demanding clarity on the payment schedule.
The issue of remuneration for exam invigilators and supervisors has been a recurring topic, with teachers often voicing frustrations over delayed payments. In October 2024, the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) engaged in discussions with the Ministry of Education, pushing for higher allowances.
The union proposed new daily rates, demanding Ksh3,000 for invigilators, Ksh3,500 for supervisors, and Ksh4,500 for principals managing examination centres. This was part of a broader effort to improve working conditions for teachers contracted by KNEC.
Public Advised to Beware of Fake News
KNEC has called on teachers and other stakeholders to be vigilant against false information spread on social media. The council reiterated that all official updates regarding exam processes and teacher payments would be communicated through its official website and verified media outlets.
The examination body also urged teachers to avoid relying on unverified sources, emphasizing that misinformation could cause unnecessary panic and confusion.
As KNEC continues with the processing of allowances, teachers who participated in the 2024 national examinations are advised to check official communication channels for payment updates.
For accurate information, KNEC has encouraged teachers to reach out via its official contact lines or visit its headquarters in Nairobi.
Conclusion
While concerns over timely payments remain a hot topic among teachers, KNEC has firmly denied any claims of missing teacher data affecting payments. The examination council reassures all contracted professionals that their allowances are being processed as scheduled.
With social media being a major source of information, KNEC’s swift response highlights the importance of verifying claims before spreading them. Teachers and the public are urged to stay informed through credible sources to avoid falling victim to fake news.
