Updated 23 October 2026
Every year the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) contracts tens of thousands of teachers and other professionals to run national examinations. KNEC has said 77,600 teachers worked as centre managers, supervisors and invigilators in the 2025 KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE. All of them are managed through one system: the Contracted Professionals portal, known as CP2, at cp2.knec.ac.ke. With the 2026 KCSE under way, this guide explains how to register, how to apply for a role, what KNEC pays and how to avoid the mistakes that hold up payment.
In this guide
What the CP2 Portal Does
KNEC describes CP2 as an integrated system that automates how it recruits, tracks and pays the people who help administer examinations. It is used to:
- Register contracted professionals and keep their personal, work and payment details.
- Take applications for roles in each examination, such as supervisor, invigilator or centre manager.
- Monitor attendance during the examination period through attendance registers.
- Process claims for payment and handle queries.
KNEC’s briefing notes are clear on one point: payments are only made to officers who have submitted their details through the platform. If you work an exam without being on CP2, you are at risk of not being paid.
Who Uses CP2
| Role | Who usually holds it | Main CP2 tasks |
|---|---|---|
| Centre manager | The principal or head teacher of the examination centre | Logs in with the centre account, confirms staff, downloads and submits attendance registers |
| Supervisor | Teachers deployed by the Sub-County Director of Education | Registers, applies for the supervision role, keeps details current |
| Invigilator | Teachers, often from other schools | Registers, applies for the invigilation role, keeps details current |
| Examiner | Teachers contracted to mark | Maintains a profile and qualifications for marking roles |
| Support personnel | Security officers and drivers | Registered for their deployment |
How to Register on CP2
- Type cp2.knec.ac.ke into your browser. The login page offers sign in for returning users and options to create an account or reset a password. A user manual can be downloaded from the same page.
- Choose to create an account. Use a Safaricom number that is registered for M-Pesa in your own name, exactly as it appears on your National ID. This is the single most important detail on the whole portal.
- Fill in your profile: ID number, TSC number or other personal file number, workstation, title, and your academic and professional qualifications.
- Submit your profile and log back in to confirm it saved correctly.
KNEC asks contracted professionals to keep their details current, for example after a transfer to a new school, a change of title or a new qualification. Check your profile before every examination season, not only the first time.
How to Apply for an Examination Role
Registering does not put you on duty. For each examination you must log in and apply for the vacancy that matches your deployment. The application form asks you to select:
- The examination, for example KCSE, KJSEA or KPSEA.
- The activity, such as supervision or invigilation.
- The duty station, meaning the examination centre.
- Your position or role.
- The county and sub-county.
Make sure the centre you select is the one you were actually deployed to. Your centre manager confirms attendance against that centre, and a mismatch is one of the reasons payments stall. If you need background on the exam dates, see our KCSE 2026 timetable and KJSEA 2026 timetable.
What KNEC Pays Contracted Professionals
KNEC pays contracted professionals per day of service, with rates that differ by role. In early 2026 KNEC announced a 3% increase for all eligible examiners, supervisors and invigilators. News reports on the revised rates put the daily amounts at the levels below.
| Role | Reported daily rate |
|---|---|
| Invigilator | KSh550 |
| Centre manager | KSh550 |
| Supervisor | KSh680 |
The total you receive depends on how many days you serve, which varies between KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE. Payment goes to the M-Pesa number on your CP2 profile and is processed after the examinations are done and results are released.
Rates as reported in the media in February 2026. KNEC has not published a public rate card, so treat your CP2 statement as the final word.
Why CP2 Payments Get Delayed and How to Fix It
KNEC has listed the most common reasons teachers miss or wait for payment, along with the remedy for each.
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The name on CP2 does not match the M-Pesa name on your phone number | Create a new CP2 account with a Safaricom number registered for M-Pesa that matches your ID details |
| Missing ID number or TSC or PF number | Log in and update the missing details |
| Attendance registers missing, or without official stamps and signatures | Centre managers download the registers from CP2, verify, sign and stamp them, then submit them to the Sub-County Director of Education (SCDE) for forwarding to KNEC |
| You worked but were not deployed on CP2 | Lodge a query with your SCDE with the year, exam, centre code, your name, your role and your M-Pesa number |
| Late or incomplete data from the sub-county | Clean up the data and resend it through the SCDE |
Before you contact anyone, confirm the name on your M-Pesa line. Dial the M-Pesa menu or check a recent M-Pesa full statement to see exactly how Safaricom has your name.
Other KNEC Portals
CP2 only handles contracted professionals. School registration, CBA uploads, results and public queries each have their own portals. Our KNEC portal login guide explains which one to use for each task.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the KNEC CP2 portal address?
cp2.knec.ac.ke. Type it yourself and check it ends in .ac.ke.
Do I need to register again every year?
No. You keep one account, but you must log in and apply for the role in each examination and keep your details up to date.
Can I use an Airtel number for CP2?
KNEC’s guidance refers to a Safaricom M-Pesa number that matches your ID details. Use one to avoid payment failures.
When does KNEC pay invigilators and supervisors?
After the examinations are completed, marked and results released. KNEC has said it works with the Ministry of Education and the National Treasury to release the funds.
Who do I contact if I was not paid?
Your Sub-County Director of Education, who forwards queries to KNEC.
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