Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu denied reports that the Kenya Kwanza administration terminated a contract awarded to a UK firm leading to the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams irregularities.
Appearing before the National Assembly Education Committee, Machogu dismissed that the Ministry of Education terminated the exam printing contract awarded to a UK firm as claimed by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
However, Machogu clarified that the contracts are awarded yearly competitively.
"We have not terminated anybody's contract. I would like to clear the air that nobody's contract was terminated," Machogu insisted.
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"Actually, each and every year a contract is made," he clarified while stating that the country could print the exam materials.
Raila had linked the procurement war to the KCPE exam integrity. He claims that with this year’s exam, the tender awarded to the UK firm was suddenly terminated by the Kenya Kwanza government because the UK company refused to give kickbacks.
“The Kenya Kwanza administration awarded the contract to a Mombasa Road-based company. It did not have the capacity and could not assure the integrity of the exams. The Mombasa Road-based company outsourced to a company based in India,” he stated.
Machogu dismissed the claims insisting that every year, a new contract is awarded.
At the same time, Machogu downplayed claims that the marking of the exams was rushed. He told the members of the committee that the Ministry undertook due diligence in marking, verification, and validation before releasing the exam releasing the results.
He attributed some exam results hitches to the SMS provider. The CS vowed to develop a new system where parents can access results for free in the upcoming national tests.
