Sh400m to help schools repair post-election damage

The Kenyan government will spend Sh419.4 million to rebuild schools destroyed in last year’s post-election violence, says a new report.

More than 200,000 learners and about 2,000 teachers were displaced from their homes by the violence. More than 1,000 people died in the chaos.

According to the Human Resource Development Sector Report 2009, the first phase of the programme was in Molo and Trans Nzoia districts in Rift Valley province. It cost Sh123.6 million.

The second and third phases will target 23 districts in Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley, Central and Nairobi provinces. It will cost Sh295.8 million.

The report says many schools were either vandalised or burnt down during the violence that rocked the country after the disputed presidential election results.

Education minister Sam Ongeri last week blamed the violence for poor performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination.

The document says displaced pupils moved from their schools, leading to makeshift schools being set up in camps for internally displaced people. The new schools did not have a good environment for learning.

The report says Mitihani House was being built for the Kenya National Examinations Council at a cost of Sh437 million. “Once completed (by 2011), it will house all activities of Knec and reduce the amount of money paid in rent.”

Rented offices

The council spends more than Sh36 million a year in rent.

Additionally, a building to house the Teachers Service Commission is under construction at a cost of Sh975.5 million.

The secretariat will move from its rented offices in Bazaar Building in Nairobi's city centre, but its electricity expenses in the new building are expected to go up from Sh4 million at Bazaar to Sh10 million.

Some Sh100 million will be needed for furniture and other equipment and Sh200 million for logistics during the move.