Magoha: CBC contractors will be paid by the new government

Education Cabinet Secretary Prof. George Magoha has assured contractors building the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) classes in the country that they will be paid once the new government is in place.

Magoha, speaking when he inspected CBC classes in Bungoma County on Saturday, said the delays in payment are as a result of the transition of the financial year and the new government.

As he lauded the contractors who had ensured the government completes the classes before the end of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s tenure, he asked his successor in the ministry to ensure the contractors are paid what they’re owed by the State.

“By the time we transit to the new government, I hope all the 10,000 classrooms will have been completed and those who will not have been paid, the incoming government to ensure that once the exchequer is open, we should pay the contractors very quickly. The classrooms have been contracted at a reasonably good price,” he said.

The CS noted that construction of the classes is at 99 per cent, adding that the remaining works will be completed by Monday next week.

He further commended Kakamega County for completing the classes on time, similarly stating that Bungoma - despite having many students in basic education - is at 98 per cent and is expected to complete the works by end of Saturday.

At the same time, he dismissed claims of universities going on strike on Monday, arguing that if indeed there are disputes then proper ways of dispute resolution mechanisms should be employed instead of resorting to drastic measures.

He said that no strike notice had been officially issued and thus he had no time to discuss rumours.

On the issue of junior secondary, Magoha said parents are allowed to take their children to day schools if they feel they are still too young.