Kakamega County Commissioner John Ondego has directed multi-agency teams supervising contraction works of classrooms meant for Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) learners to assess works of all uncompleted projects.
Ondego said some contractors were unable to complete the projects and that they would be paid for the works so far done and the same surrendered to those with capacity to finish them.
Speaking at Maghribi hall in Kakamega town during a stakeholders and a multi-agency meeting to follow up their completion, Ondego noted that while 94 percent of the classrooms were complete, there were a few contractors who were facing financial challenges to deliver.
The County Commissioner has however given an assurance to contractors who have satisfactorily completed their works that they would be paid promptly.
“Government already allocated funds and those whose work is completed as per terms and conditions of contract terms will be paid promptly since the government is fast tracking the payments,” he added.
Ondego gave the contractors three weeks within which all works should be completed in the new 242 CBC classrooms being constructed in Kakamega County.
He said those projects are supposed to have been completed by end of this month
“We want to have a 100 percent completion rate to ensure students joining form one secondary schools and those transiting to junior secondary under the government policy of 100 percent transition use the classes before the start of phase two of the CBC programme,” he added.
The County Commissioner added that the government is concurrently improving infrastructure in 242 secondary schools in the county under the Government of Kenya and World Bank Programme.
He said under the Kenya Secondary Quality Improvement Project (SEQIP), more laboratories, ablution blocks and equipment is being channeled to secondary schools.
“As you are aware, the programme was launched by the CS Education Prof. George Magoha at Butere girls a week ago,” he added.
The Western Regional Director of Education Stephen Baranko said Vihiga County was ranked the best in completion of CBC classrooms in western region, while Kakamega, Bungoma and Busia were at around 100 percent.
The meeting was attended by principals of all secondary schools, Deputy county commissioners, Ministry of Public Works and procurement officials.
