Sh 500million has been allocated in the 2021/2022 financial year budget for the completion of the Kenya National Examinations Council headquarters that has stalled for 33 years.
Also referred to as Mitihani House, the building project began in 1968. The project’s aim was to consolidate all Knec activities under one roof. It involved construction of three interconnected blocks of office space referred to as Towers A, B and C comprising one common basement, ground floor and six upper floors on each tower.
However, according to the National Assembly education committee, it is yet to be completed due some individuals benefiting from the incomplete project each financial year. The Sh500 million is in addition to the Sh395 million that was allocated to complete the headquarters in the supplementary budget in this financial year of 2019/2020.
Loss of funds
“The building must be completed to save taxpayers money that is being wasted on rent and logistics amounting to over Sh110 million per year. This amount doesn’t include the printing of exams which is done annually in Britain causing another huge expense,” said Education committee chairperson Florence Mutua.
The Busia Woman rep further explained that with the new competence based curriculum system, a lot of assessments which culminate to the final grading of the pupils will be conducted thus this will increase exam printing trips, which is totally unnecessary if Mitihani House is completed.
“What will be needed in the next budget is now the purchase of the machines for printing exams to save taxpayers loss of funds,” said Ms Mutua.
