MPs Want Special Fund for KNEC Examiners, Invigilators

The government is being urged by MPs to set up a unique budget that will only be used to pay national examiners and invigilators.

If approved, the proposal would put a stop to the lengthy payment delays that have been endured despite objections and frequent go-slows by examiners.

Senators want government officials who occasion delays to be surcharged on cumulative interests and penalties.

Senator Ledama Ole Kina of Narok and Senator Esther Okenyuri, nominated by the UDA, have taken the lead on the proposal.

“We want the  to inquire on the steps Knec intends to take to have the teachers paid without any further delays,” she said.

According to Ole Kina, the money students pay to take the two national exams would be put into the account.

“Students pay to be able to take the exam and so the money is there. This is an issue that Knec has become notorious for because they always delay the payments,” the senator said.

“The most logical way is to peg this with the money paid by the students for them to take that exam. Put this money in a special account and budget it to pay the teachers.”

The senator made the case that a motion ought to be proposed and adopted so that Parliament can make a decision.

“Suppose our sitting allowances are delayed, we will be complaining and paralyse everything but here teachers are paid peanuts and are still frustrated to get the little amount due to them,” he said.

Knec has already disclosed that funding delays frequently have hindered its operations.

Nominated Senator Beatrice Oyomo, said it is regrettable that while results are announced and celebrated nationally, teachers who made sacrifices for the exam’s accomplishment have not yet received their full compensation.

“This shows a lack of gratitude to teachers for the sacrifice they make while marking the exams,” Oyomo said.