The administration of three key national examinations may be jeopardised after the government failed to allocate a budget for the tests, an omission that is likely to affect thousands of learners.
The Ministry of Education revealed that no funds were set aside in the 2025/26 national budget to facilitate the administration of Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), Junior Secondary School (JSS), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
The National Assembly Education Committee has raised alarm over the glaring omission, warning that the failure to allocate the funds may jeopardise the administration of critical national assessments.
Education PS Julius Bitok, who appeared before the Education committee to defend his ministry’s budget estimates, was unable to explain why the KPSEA, JSS, and KCSE examinations had not been allocated funding.
Committee chairperson Julius Melly (Tinderet) expressed concern over the failure to set aside funds to facilitate the examination, terming it a glaring omission in a sector where summative national exams are predictable and essential.
Further, the lawmakers expressed shock as to why the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) was not present, in the House, to explain why their department had zero budget, despite the weight the national exercise holds in the republic.
"Exams are activities that take place at the end of every year. Summative exams have to take place. But you have presented a budget with zero. Why is it not in the budget?" Melly asked. "I don't see the CEO of KNEC here either. As a Committee, we need answers."
Bitok had a difficult time explaining why the ministry failed in its planning capacity to set aside funds for the budget.
The Treasury was also faulted over its intent to paralyse examinations by not allocating funds in the budget cycle.
Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi further warned the nation that parents risked being asked for examination money should the situation remain as it is.
"What is wrong with the exams of our children? Does Treasury want to do away with exams, or does it want to communicate to parents to start paying examination fees?" Momanyi questioned.
The Committee further raised concern over the implementation of a presidential directive requiring schools to release certificates withheld due to fee arrears, with Teso South MP Mary Emaase lamenting that despite the directive issued in 2023, many schools were still holding onto certificates, denying learners their right to seek further education or employment.
PS Bitok admitted there were funding gaps and promised to consult with the Treasury and the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to address the matter.
The lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the responses, noting that Ksh62 billion had been slashed from the overall education budget.
The MPs demanded a revised budget presentation and summoned KNEC officials to appear and clarify how the examinations will be administered in the absence of funding.
