Govt spokesperson assures parents they will not pay for KCSE exams
Government Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura has assured parents that they will not be required to pay any money for their children to sit the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, Mwaura indicated that the National Treasury was in active talks with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) over the matter.
The government spokesperson thus assured parents that there was no cause for alarm.
“The Government affirms that no parent will be required to pay KCSE exam fees. Talks are ongoing to resolve budget gaps with KNEC and the Treasury,” the office of the government spokesperson clarified.
MPs concern
The response came after members of the National Assembly Education Committee raised alarm over the zero budget allocated to examination preparation and invigilation 2025/26 national budget.
Committee Chairperson Julius Melly (Tinderet) expressed concern at the absence of examination allocations, terming it a glaring omission in a sector where summative national exams are predictable and essential.
“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,” the Tinderet MP insisted.
His sentiments were echoed by Narok County Women Representative Rebecca Tonke, who questioned the ministry’s planning capacity. “The fact remains that this is something that happens every year. Why are funds not set aside in this budget?” she posed.
Weighing in, Jerusha Momanyi (Nyamira) asked, “What is wrong with 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?”
The lawmakers were triggered after PS Julius Bitok failed to explain why the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KEPSEA), Junior Secondary School (JSS), and Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations had not been allocated funding.
