Government raises alarm over quality of desks supplied

The government has raised alarm over the poor quality of desks being delivered to schools by local Jua Kali artisans. 

Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha took issue with what he termed as sub standard desks, which had been delivered to a primary school in Nairobi.

He warned that the desks will have to be comprehensively inspected before they can be delivered to schools going forward

The CS who inspected delivery of desks at Dr Muthiora Primary School decried the shoddy works delivered to the school and warned any other Jua kali artisans against compromising the project.

Sub-standard desks

“The Government is not going to allow this, we will ensure that the desks are made with expected standards for our children, that they have been delivered and are being used,” said the CS.

Dr Muthiora Primary School head teacher, a Jua Kali artisan, education and Interior officials involved in production works were on the receiving end over delivery of sub-standard desks, some of which had already fallen apart.

Magoha insisted that the government will only pay the Jua Kali artisans once they have delivered desks with right specification, which is to be made directly through MPesa.

“We will pay the artisans directly through MPesa so that there is no link between my officers and the money.

If it was my officers to pay you can start to think what might happen,” said the CS.

Primary schools are to receive 360,000 desks worth Sh900 million, while secondary schools will receive 263,157 lockers and chairs at a total cost of Sh1 billion.

Each identified school was to receive 70 desks while each secondary will receive 50 lockers and chairs.

Production process

County officials overseeing the production process said that much as the work has kicked off, local artisans are yet to receive the 50 per cent upfront payment promised to them by Government.

However, the officials said indications are that the monies may be released soon, which is expected to go a long way in supplementing the artisans’ work.

The government set aside Sh1.9 billion under Economic Stimulus Programme (ESP) for the supply of the locally assembled furniture to public primary and secondary schools countrywide.

Much as not all learners have resumed learning, public primary and secondary schools are struggling with infrastructural challenges.

Given the situation at Dr Muthiora Primary School, CS said all Ministry of Education and Interior officers must ensure that all the desks are made ready and inspected before they can be delivered because piecemeal delivery can lead to some form of theft.