Members of Parliament (MPs) want the government to develop a proper framework to finance Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETs) and Universities.
On Tuesday, August 20, members of an audit committee raised concerns that budget cuts in higher education could worsen the financial struggles of these institutions.
The Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance, chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, reviewed audit reports that highlighted numerous challenges in managing these institutions.
Wamboka identified delayed fund disbursement as the main obstacle to the efficient operation of schools in Kenya, undermining the quality and standards of the education system.
Stalled Projects in Universities & TVETs
Lawmakers expressed concern over stalled government-funded projects in tertiary institutions. Reports showed that some projects were completed but didn’t meet specifications, while others exceeded their completion deadlines.
For example, Ekerubo Geitai Technical Training Institute was supposed to complete a library block by April 13, 2017, at a cost of Ksh48,919,382.
However, a physical inspection on July 23, 2020, revealed that the project was only 52% complete.
The principal blamed the delay on the government’s failure to disburse funds quarterly as promised.
Katine Technical Training Institute also faced delays in completing an administration and tuition block, awarded to a contractor in November 2015 for Ksh19,969,041.
By February 2021, the project was still unfinished. The contractor had been paid Ksh16,405,474, but two requests for additional payment were not honored due to a dispute.
The contractor demanded Ksh10,377,643 for outstanding balances and delays. The dispute has since been forwarded to the Attorney General and the Ministry of Education.
Committee members requested the ministry’s presence in the next meeting to address these issues.
Other institutions, like Kabianga University, had similarly stalled projects, including an eight-story library construction.
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Impacts of Delays in Funding
Committee member Moses Kirima noted that delays in funding lead to cost overruns, as projects extend beyond their planned schedules, requiring additional resources and labor.
The committee called for a review of procurement laws to prevent contractors from quoting low prices to win bids, only to deliver substandard work or request price increases midway through projects.
MP Thuddeus Nzambia warned that delays can inflate budgets due to extended project timelines.
The committee also cited issues like non-compliance with ethnic composition laws and irregular procurement practices, such as Maasai Technical Training Institute paying Ksh126,038 to an unlisted supplier.
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Education Ministry & Treasury
The members resolved to invite the Ministry of Education, the National Treasury, and Economic Planning to develop a proper framework for financing TVETs and universities.
This framework is necessary to reduce the risk of top-notch institutions closing due to bankruptcy.
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