- As the project delays, there are concerns that KNEC could be spending taxpayers’ money on rent at Sh110 million every year.
- National assembly education committee chair Florence Mutua said this project will soon be slashed out of the budget.
Image: CHARLENE MALWA
The construction of Mitihani House which started almost 35 years ago still remains unfinished.
Since 2016, the government has pumped in approximately a Sh1.9 billion towards its completion.
Kenya National Examination Council is still requesting for Sh2 billion up to the financial year 2024/2025 towards its construction.
As the project delays, there are concerns that KNEC could be spending taxpayers’ money on rent at a rate Sh110 million every year.
The initial contract awarded to Mavji Construction Company Ltd as the main contractor cost Sh258 million in February 1986.
National Assembly education committee chair Florence Mutua said this project will soon be slashed out of the budget.
She said the building was to be complete before the year ends to enable the printing of national exams at the establishment.
“This was one of the projects President Uhuru Kenyatta wanted to launch before he finishes his second term. If this building was complete our CS, PS would be here and not in UK Printing exams,” Mutua said.
She further faulted KNEC for failing to abide by the commitment; she said the council is likely to lose this budget allocation.
“What we are refusing is continued misuse of taxpayer’s money,” she said.
In the previous financial year, the project was allocated Sh500 million that was meant to complete its construction.
However, Andrew Otieno who represented KNEC CEO David Njengére said the funds were used to settle some pending bills.
“The previous contractor took us to court and had stopped construction on the basis that we owed him Sh500 million. Most of the money allocated last time was used to pay the debt,” he said.
Bomachoge Borabu MP Zadock Ogutu said the project might no longer be funded.
“I remember very well the CS pleaded last time and asked for Sh500 million and said he will not come again. We gave him money, he did not come back and we don’t have the building,” Ogutu said.
Nominated MP Wilson Sossion backed the move to stop funding the project saying there’s no need for Mutua to factor Mtihani House in the budget.
“There’s no need for the chair to go and ask for money for this project because this is a deliberate abuse of trust. You did not even bother to consult us when the contractor went to court,” Sossion said.
Engineers' estimate of March 2017 showed that the project required about Sh1.8 billion to finish the remaining works.
Mitihani House was initiated to house all KNEC activities next to the Kenya Bureau of Standards' premises in South C, off Mombasa Road.
Towers A, B, and C were to comprise a common basement, ground floor, and six upper floors on each tower.
There was also a planned printing plant for processing all the council’s examination papers as one component of the project.
The first phase was the construction of the printing press block next to the New Mitihani House which was completed by Capital Construction Company Ltd at Sh113 million.