Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok has warned school heads against preventing learners from sitting for national examinations, citing claims of inadequate funds as unacceptable. Speaking in Kibra on Monday, October 27, during the official launch of the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) and the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), Bitok confirmed that the government has already released all necessary funds, including capitation, to ensure the smooth administration of exams currently underway.

“The government has released all the money required to support every candidate. No school should have any excuse for failing to facilitate learners during these examinations,” he stated. Bitok added that additional funds had been disbursed specifically to cater for the administration of exams, guaranteeing a seamless process across all learning institutions.

He emphasized that all schools that complied with the school data verification exercise had already received their allocations. For months, headteachers across the country had raised concerns about delayed capitation, warning that late disbursements could disrupt the examination period. However, the Ministry of Education explained that it had to first verify school and student data before releasing the funds to ensure that public resources go to legitimate institutions.

During the verification process, the ministry uncovered more than 50,000 ghost students in secondary schools across the country. The discovery prompted the government to enhance oversight in how funds are distributed and used in schools.

The Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA) is scheduled to run from October 27 to 30, while the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA), which targets learners with special needs, will take place from October 27 to 31. The Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) and the Kenya Pre-Vocational Level Education Assessment (KPLEA) will be conducted over nine days, beginning on October 27 and ending on November 6. The Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) is currently in its second week.

Bitok called on teachers and invigilators to maintain professionalism throughout the examination period, saying the ministry expects nothing less than integrity and diligence in administering the 2025 KPSEA, KJSEA, and KCSE. He further assured that the government has put in place robust systems to ensure a smooth transition for learners after completing their national examinations.

Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok pictured during a meeting at his Nairobi office on July 31, 2025. | Photo by Julius Bitok