KUPPET threatens boycott of 2026 national exams over low allowances and contested education bill

# What happened

KUPPET's secretary-general, Aleko Misori, said the current rates are insufficient compensation for the responsibilities involved and compared them unfavourably to pay for some manual labour roles. The union says it will ask teachers to decline examination assignments if the SRC does not act.

# Why teachers are threatening to boycott

# The policy and law dispute

Separately, KUPPET has raised objections to the Basic Education Bill 2026 and other proposed reform bills. The union says the Bills are being pushed without a prior policy framework. KUPPET's position is that you cannot legislate before developing policy, and it has called for greater adherence to established sector planning before lawmaking.

Education is conducting public consultations on the Bill. Those consultations were extended to October 2 so additional counties can be covered. KUPPET has questioned the pace and conduct of the public participation exercise and has previously asked for hearings to be suspended.

# Context and timing

The warning comes while schools and exam officials prepare for the 2026 national assessment cycle scheduled to begin in October. The timing makes the dispute particularly risky for students and schools that rely on teachers to run and mark exams.

KUPPET's move follows a period of wider tensions in the education sector. The Education Cabinet Secretary held consultative meetings with KUPPET earlier in September to discuss teacher welfare and capitation shortfalls. There are also separate industrial actions threatened by university lecturers, raising additional disruption risks across the education system.

# What could happen next

If SRC does not review the allowances, KUPPET could instruct teachers to refuse exam-related work, starting with KPSEA and extending through KCSE. That would interrupt administration, invigilation and marking processes that depend on teacher participation.

Assembly's extended consultations leave a window for policy or political responses before the exams start, but the union has already signalled that unresolved pay and process issues would prompt concrete action.

# Immediate implications for stakeholders

• Education authorities: Must decide whether to engage SRC and KUPPET urgently, or make contingency plans to keep exams running.
• Teachers: Face a choice between accepting current allowances or following union directives to decline duties.

# Bottom line

KUPPET has made a clear conditional demand: increase exam-duty allowances or face a coordinated refusal by teachers to manage and mark national assessments. At the same time, the union contests the legislative route taken for the Basic Education Bill 2026 and seeks a halt or review of the process. With national exams imminent and parliamentary consultations ongoing, the coming days will determine whether talks avert disruption or whether the union follows through on its threat.