Shame of incomplete exam centre for 26 years

By AUGUSTINE ODUOR

The Government is on the spot for failing to provide funds to complete the Kenya National Examination Council headquarters that has been under construction since 1986.

The multi-billion shilling building in Nairobi’s South C has been under construction for the last 26 years, with Treasury not allocating adequate funds in the subsequent financial years.

Knec secretary Paul Wasanga on Tuesday revealed that the delayed completion of the building poses serious security risk on examinations management.

Currently, the examination agency operates in six different locations.

Knec has two bases for exam administration at Caledonia on Dennis Pritt Road where national examinations are released annually.

Another office is situated at Industrial Area. Test development is done at another rented office on the National Bank Building in the city centre.

Another office is situated at the National Housing Corporation Building, which currently acts as the headquarters of the Council. This is also where Wasanga’s office is hosted.

Other activities such as reprographics, which Wasanga said is a critical department that deals in printing materials, drawings and exam documents, is located in Nairobi’s South C.

He said if completed, the new building would bring all the services in one compound.

“This will make management and delivery of critical national examinations efficient,” he said.