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Knec demands Sh2bn for its stalled building


The national examinations agency has appealed to the Treasury to release Sh2 billion to finish construction of  its stalled 27-year-old  building.

The completion of the six storey building in South C, is expected to save the Kenya National Examinations Council (Knec) more than Sh60 million in annual rent expenses, said the council’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Wasanga.

The officer added that it would also   lead to increased efficiency as well as enable it guarantee the security and credibility of its exams.

Currently, the agency operates from three different offices spread across the county. Mr Wasanga said working in such scattered offices was a challenge.

“It is unsafe, inefficient and costly. We spend a lot of money to hire support staff and contract security firms to man all our offices,” he said.

He said the staff had been wasting a lot of time transporting content from one office to another because the  confidential nature of exams, did not allow for sharing through the Internet for fear of hacking.

Part of the KNEC building on November 30,2013.The building whose construction has been on for the past 26 years is yet to be compleated. Photo/Stella Cherono.
Part of the KNEC building on November 30,2013.The building whose construction has been on for the past 26 years is yet to be compleated. Photo/Stella Cherono.

“Examinations are a sensitive matter that should not be handled casually. We need to operate from a central office” Mr Wasanga emphasised.

The failure to complete the work which started in 1987 has been blamed on insufficient funds from the Government.

Appearing before a parliamentary commission looking into the stalled project in 2011, former Public Works Minister Chris Obure Stalled Projects Completion Programme.

Mr Wasonga however complained that the money had been coming in bits.

“The problem is that no one seems to realise that failure to complete the building is causing a lot of problems. The Treasury should allocate the remaining Sh2 billion once and for all for the completion of the project,” Mr Wasanga said.

The examinations boss said he was optimistic that by the end of February, Parliament would have approved the budgetary allocation towards its completion.

This is following promises by Education Principle Secretary Kipsang Bellio that the matter would be treated with urgency.

The Knec building is behind the posh Kenya-Re Garden estate. Even though it is not complete, the council has ben using the basement for storage.

Knec has been operating from offices on Dennis Pritt Road and in Industrial Area. Another office is located in the National Housing Corporation building in the CBD.