6 Senior Education Officials Sent Home in Ksh1.7B Scandal

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Education CS George Magoha addresses the media at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Education (KICD), Nairobi on Friday May 29, 2020.

Schools reopening may be affected after six senior Education Ministry officials were sent on a seven-month compulsory leave over Ksh 1.7 billion scandal at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD).

KICD acting Chief Executive Joel Mabonga issued the leave to six of his junior officials. However, a human rights organisation wrote to Education CS George Magoha and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate Mabonga for alleged graft and violation of human rights over his decision.

The letter was also addressed to the Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti and the Director of Public Prosecutions Noordin Haji. 

Human Rights Focus also accused Mabonga of exploiting the tendering process of the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) Grade 5 textbooks.

Textbook suppliers in the Ksh 1.7 billion tender were awarded contracts on July 6, three days after submitting their quotations.

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KICD acting CEO Joel Mabonga
File

The period of time in between raised questions over the vetting process by the state agency. 

The six officials sent on leave are secondary Education Deputy Director Ruth Mugambi,  Olive Mbuthia, Director of Primary Education, Solomon Kathuo, Deputy Director, Finance, Emmanuel Mulwa, Deputy Director Human Resources, Emily Sila, Deputy Director Resource Centre and John Kimotho, Senior Director Media.

These senior officials are crucial to the reopening process as they were part of the group directing the facilitation of online learning which has seen over Ksh 1 billion pumped into the project to aid students in accessing education during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

A recent survey by a local telecommunication company detailed that many students were opting for other platforms such as Longhorn and Shupavu rather than the KICD online content. 

"This is a clear abuse of office. The future of schools’ curriculum in Kenya is threatened because top experts were sent on forced leave," Human Rights Focus stated in the letter written to the investigating agencies. 

Mabonga who took over in an acting capacity in 2018 refuted the reports and distanced himself from the scandal.

"I cannot comment on the content of the letter since I have no knowledge of it. The letter is addressed to the investigators and not me, let them do their work," the acting CEO stated in an interview with People Daily.

His position is nonetheless up for grabs after KICD announced an opening for the CEO post on its website. The deadline for submission of applications is Tuesday, August 25. 

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Learners are taken through KICD materials at the Nairobi Show Ground on October 2, 2019
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