Kenya’s education sector is facing renewed tension after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba dismissed a viral letter claiming that examiners for the 2025 national examinations would only be paid starting July 2026.
Ogamba clarified that the document circulating widely on social media is fake and did not originate from his office. He urged teachers and the public to ignore the misleading information, warning that such content only fuels confusion and anxiety among educators already grappling with payment delays.
The controversy comes amid growing frustration from thousands of teachers who have yet to receive payment for marking the 2025 national examinations. The delay has triggered widespread concern, with many teachers questioning the government’s commitment to honoring their work.
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has escalated the matter by threatening to boycott future national examinations if the issue of delayed payments is not resolved urgently. Such a move could disrupt the country’s education calendar and affect millions of students.
Meanwhile, the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had earlier warned the public about another fake letter related to examiner payments. The repeated spread of false information has deepened mistrust and uncertainty within the education sector.
Education stakeholders are now calling on the government to address the payment delays transparently and promptly. Teachers are demanding clear communication and immediate action to restore confidence in the system.
As the situation unfolds, the incident highlights the dangers of misinformation, especially when it targets sensitive issues like salaries and livelihoods in critical sectors such as education.
