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The Kenya National Examinations Council, however, has been allocated only Sh9.9 billion in the current financial year, leaving it with a funding deficit of Sh6.71 billion.
Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Deputy Secretary-General Hesbon Otieno said the ministry should have completed the exercise earlier to allow schools enough time to analyse learner assessment reports and guide them appropriately.
KNEC said only shortlisted applicants will be required to pay a training fee of Sh10,500. Instructions on how to make the payment will be shared through SMS and the KNEC application portal.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) had completed the disbursement of the outstanding balances to the examiners' respective bank accounts following the release of funds by the National Treasury.
The verification comes as KNEC intensifies preparations for the administration of assessments under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), where continuous assessment contributes to a learner’s final score.
KNEC says the increase has been driven by awareness drives across the country and growing urgency among learners and adults who want to secure the KCSE certificate before the current system is phased out.
This comes days after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba acknowledged that the government is facing a Sh4.7 billion funding deficit needed to settle pending bills for examiners, supervisors, invigilators and other contracted staff under the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC).
The association acknowledged ongoing initiatives, such as the rollout of coding and the hiring of STEM teachers by the Teachers Service Commission, but emphasized that these measures remain introductory and fall short of developing deeper technical expertise.
Teachers and tutors who wish to apply must meet strict requirements. Applicants should be actively teaching the relevant subjects at the level being examined or higher. They must be registered with the Teachers Service Commission or the Public Service Commission and hold at least a Diploma in Education.
KNEC dismissed claims that the grading model is confusing or designed to water down standards, warning schools against sharing what it described as false and misleading interpretations of results. The council said it had noted reports circulating in some schools showing aggregate scores and mean grades, which do not apply to KJSEA.
Ogamba also addressed concerns that had emerged last month when some parents and school heads raised questions about possible fee changes under the Competency-Based Curriculum. In November, he dismissed any talk of revised charges, saying the ministry had not altered the rates set earlier.
Nationally, the ministry’s data showed that 642,620 learners, representing 56.84 per cent of the total, were within the recommended age range of 14 to 15 years. Overall, 1,130,459 learners participated in the 2025 KJSEA, a key milestone in implementing the competency-based curriculum. Of these, 578,630 were male and 551,829 female, making up 51.19 per cent and 48.81 per cent respectively.