Deputy Government Spokesperson Mwanaisha Chidzuga has dispelled the ongoing fears among parents and students and assured them that the government will ensure all candidates sit for their national examinations this year as scheduled. She insists its the government’s responsibility to ensure every child has access to education and can sit for their respective national exams. Chidzuga was speaking during Radio 47’s breakfast show on 28th May 2025. “Education matters is the responsibility of the government so do not worry, all students will sit their national exams at the right time as scheduled and none will miss out,” said Chidzuga.

She also promised swift government intervention in case of any challenge, ” If there will be any problem a solution will be sought so that no Kenyan student will miss out of the exam” she added.

This uncertainty comes a few days after Treasury CS, John Mbadi revealed that a policy is in place to end a decade long initiative by the government which covers the entire registration fee of Sh7,200 per candidate as per the recommendations of the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), which cited unsustainable costs amid the fast rising of student enrollment over the past few years and also a Sh91.8 billion deficit in the education sector which calls for prioritizing other needs n the education sector.

Mbadi earlier stated the government was working on a mechanism to incorporate needy students into the new exam waiver scheme from next year and hinting at possibly ending the same waiver for students in private schools to ensure that only vulnerable households enjoy exam waivers.

On her part Chidzuga also confirmed that the government has allocated funds for exam fees waiver for the needy in the soon to be tabled next financial year’s budget. “Legally if we fail to give the student a chance to take the exam then the government will be sued for violating basic rights so don’t worry we are working on it, the funds are there and even in the budget that will be read in June, education funds will be increased so that we can improve our services to Kenyans” Chidzuga added.

Despite these assurances many parents still remain worried and uncertain of the financial burden in the subsequent years, this have been evident through various stakeholders critizing this reform with Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers {KUPPET] claiming this could impact the universal exam access negatively while Silas Obuhatsa the chair of National Parents Association had earlier stated this move could result in sharp increase of school drop outs.