Magoha: We reduced classrooms constructing costs by Sh412,000

As Education CS George Magoha rushes to complete construction of CBC classrooms, he has revealed tricks used on the money disbursed.

Magoha while commissioning four CBC classrooms at the Nairobi School disclosed that the cost of construction was reduced.

He said previously, classrooms were constructed at Sh1.2 million per classroom.

“I hope that we don’t go back to basically stealing almost 500,000 from every classroom because you are stealing that money from a child,” Magoha said.

The Star reached out to a number of contractors building CBC classrooms who confirmed that the said amount is true.

One contractor in Nairobi who chose anonymity said the schools give them Sh788,000 for construction of CBC classrooms.

“It is true that is the money we are given to be used for each classroom, if you are assigned four classes you are given almost Sh3.1 million,” he said.

Magoha faulted some school heads and contractors for colluding to ‘eat’ almost Sh500,000 for every facility.

According to the Ministry of Education, 8,300 classrooms have been constructed across the country at Sh788,000 per class.

“That is the transformative shift but a prophet is never recognised in his area, many years to come you will be able to compare the price difference,” he said.

This means the total budget is Sh6.5 billion at the subsidised price, which would have been initially Sh9.9 billion.

With the new cost of classroom construction, taxpayers have been saved Sh3.4 billion.

“I just hope that we don’t go back to that kind of impunity because we are basically stealing from ourselves,” Magoha warned.

He also downplayed critics who ask why he personally has to commission the CBC classrooms.

Magoha said the nature of Kenyans does not allow one to sit in the office and expect activities to run smoothly.

“People don’t like me going out to confirm, I will not trust you until I go and see the building, like where I am now I know the building is here,” he said.

Magoha in his final days as education CS thanked President Uhuru Kenyatta for prioritising the education sector.

The education sector was the greatest beneficiary of the national budget in the financial year 2022/2023 receiving Sh544 billion.

“The President has given us 26.9 per cent of the budget and we thank him for that; our challenge is how that money is used,” he added.

Magoha promised to continue commissioning CBC classrooms until it's his time to leave.

He said by the time he leaves, almost 8,500 CBC classrooms will have been commissioned.

“For example, if somebody goes to court, by the time they finish I will have completed my work,” Magoha said.

The Education CS said the second phase of CBC classes is at 58 per cent, nationwide.

The Western and Rift Valley regions, he said, are still at 50 per cent while Nyeri county is at 88 per cent

Magoha urged the incoming government to ensure the funds allocated to the education sector are spent prudently.