Kenya 29, October 2025 - The government has moved to calm rising concern among parents after revelations that funding for national examinations had been omitted from the 2025/2026 budget. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has reaffirmed that no parent will be required to pay for the ongoing national exams, assuring the public that the Ministry of Education was already addressing the matter with the National Treasury.
“Parents are not going to be required to pay examination fees,” Ogamba said in Nairobi. “It was an omission, and that omission is being attended to as we are discussing to ensure that it’s a standard. ”The clarification follows uproar after it emerged that the budgetary allocation for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA),and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations had been struck out in the latest financial estimates.
According to ministry officials, over 3.5 million learners are sitting for national examinations this year across all levels. Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi has also clarified that the government intends to review the exam fee subsidy framework in future budgets, citing fairness and sustainability concerns. “We have to review the cost and ask ourselves why we should pay the examination fee for all students, including those in private schools,” Mbadi said in an interview.
However, he maintained that the ongoing examinations will not be disrupted, adding that the government will release supplementary funding to the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) to bridge the shortfall. Education analysts have cautioned that even a temporary lapse in exam funding could have far-reaching implications for access and equity. Many families, especially in rural areas, rely on government support to ensure their children complete the education cycle.
Background
The state has fully funded examination fees since 2016 under the Free Primary and Free Day Secondary Education programs. In the 2023/24 fiscal year, KSh 5.3 billion was allocated to cover the costs for both KCPE and KCSE candidates. The omission in the 2025/26 budget triggered speculation about possible cost-sharing measures as part of the government’s wider austerity plan.