Queries as laptops get less money

Pupils at Blescohouse School in Nakuru take computer lessons on January 28, 2014. The government has allocated less money for digital learning in public primary schools, raising questions as to how it plans to execute the project. PHOTO | FILE  NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi acknowledged that the money allocated was fell short of the initial budget
• The laptops projects ran into headwinds from day one with the Jubilee government initially providing less money for the supply of the laptops

By GRIFFINS OMWENGA
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By SAMWEL BORN MAINA
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The government could be planning to scale down the schools laptop project or seek external funding to get the venture off the ground.

A scrutiny of the 2014/2015 Budget estimates tabled in Parliament this week revealed that Treasury allocated only Sh17 billion for the deployment of laptops, train teachers, develop digital content and build computer labs for use by pupils from class four to eight.

This is way below the initial figure of Sh24 billion proposed to fund the entire programme.

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi acknowledged that the money allocated was fell short of the initial budget but sought to reassure Kenyans that the laptops would be issued to class one pupils regardless of the over Sh7 billion shortfall.

Prof Kaimenyi said the project was one of the key anchors of the Jubilee Coalition and must be executed at all costs. “One of the promises in the Jubilee government manifesto is to have all class one pupils get free laptops; the bottom line is that the gadgets will reach them next year,” Prof Kaimenyi told Saturday Nation. However, he did not specify how the government would plug the financing gap.

Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang said the ministry would engage relevant stakeholders if the money proved inadequate. “We will hold discussions on the issue if the funds do not meet the minimum threshold to service the project,” he said in a telephone interview on Friday.

HEADWINDS

The laptops projects ran into headwinds from day one with the Jubilee government initially providing less money for the supply of the laptops.

Despite the government increasing the allocation through a supplementary budget, the biggest blow was the cancellation of the tender for the supply of Sh1.3 million laptops contract awarded to Indian firm Olive Telecommunications PVT Ltd by the Public Procurement Board.

This was done on grounds that the company did not meet the financial requirement set out in the tender document and were not original equipment manufacturers.

The board said the ministry should not have allowed Olive to go past the preliminary stage of the tendering since they had failed to prove that Olive had a business relationship with Olive Global Holding Private Ltd, Olive Telecommunications (Hong Kong) and New Century Optronics Company Ltd.

The ministry had awarded the tender to Olive at a cost of Sh24.6 billion, which the board found was Sh1.4 billion more than the price quoted by the winning bidder before negotiations with the ministry.

The company moved to the High Court to challenge the decision and obtained orders stopping the award on a new tender until its case is determined. (READ: Hearing date set for disputed laptops tender case)