Teachers marking the 2026 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) are reported to earn KSh 35 per script plus a KSh 1,500 basic amount. A KSh 250 daily coordination fee has also been reported. The written papers ended on 30 October, marking is expected to take about two weeks, and only trained, deployed examiners take part.
The pay structure
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rate per script | KSh 35 | Reported for 2026; same as the 2025 rate |
| Basic amount | KSh 1,500 | Reported for 2026; same as 2025 |
| Coordination fee | KSh 250 per day | Reported by one outlet; not seen in a KNEC notice |
| Training fee (paid earlier) | KSh 10,500 | KNEC notice |
KNEC has not published a total because earnings depend on how many scripts you are allocated and finish.
What you could earn
Every extra 100 scripts adds KSh 3,500. The table assumes the daily fee is paid for 14 days (KSh 3,500) and ignores deductions.
| Scripts marked | Script pay | Basic | Coordination | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 10,500 | 1,500 | 3,500 | 15,500 |
| 500 | 17,500 | 1,500 | 3,500 | 22,500 |
| 800 | 28,000 | 1,500 | 3,500 | 33,000 |
| 1,000 | 35,000 | 1,500 | 3,500 | 40,000 |
| 1,500 | 52,500 | 1,500 | 3,500 | 57,500 |
If the daily fee turns out not to apply, subtract KSh 3,500. After recovering the KSh 10,500 training fee, a 1,000-script examiner would be left with about KSh 29,500 before travel and other costs. KNEC has not detailed statutory deductions.
Who marks, and what gets marked
Examiners were selected from teachers who applied and paid for training. KNEC’s criteria included:
- active TSC or Public Service Commission employment
- at least a Diploma in Education
- three years’ teaching experience
- no disciplinary action
- head of institution’s recommendation
- age 50 or below
KNEC’s 2026 call said training would run July–August in two phases, online and residential. Not every script goes to a person. Multiple-choice sections answered on OMR sheets are machine-marked, so human examiners handle open-ended and creative papers.
Read Also: KCSE 2026 Week 3 Rules: What KNEC Has Told Exam Centres
When will you be paid?
Payment timing is the real risk. The Ministry of Education said on 9 July 2026 that balances owed to 2025 KJSEA and KCSE examiners had been cleared, after Treasury released KSh 1.5 billion on 7 July. That was months after the 2025 marking. KUPPET has also said KNEC underpays and sometimes pays as little as KSh 30 per script, which is a union claim, not a KNEC figure.
Avoid scams
KNEC says payment instructions go out through official SMS and the examiners’ portal. Do not pay anyone promising a marking slot.
If you were not selected
KNEC has run examiner calls repeatedly in 2026, in February and again in July. Watch the KNEC website for the next one.