At least 16 TVET institutions report stalled projects as MPs warn of rising costs

A recent report presented to the National Assembly Committee on Education has revealed that at least 16 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions have stalled projects, largely due to delayed or inadequate funding.

Key projects affected include training complexes, workshops, hostels, and libraries, some of which have remained incomplete for years despite significant investments.

The Committee has now called out the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training over the stalled infrastructure.

Led by Chairperson MP Julius Melly, the Committee has directed the State Department, headed by Principal Secretary Dr. Esther Muoria, to provide comprehensive data on all ongoing, stalled, and completed projects, and warned against initiating new projects before existing ones are finalized.

MPs who specifically pressed for updates on multi-year and foreign-funded projects, including those under the Kenya-China programme, cited the risk of escalating costs and potential contractual penalties if delays continue.

They reiterated that projects in Wajir North, North Rift (Tiaty), and Kipkabus, for instance, have either been abandoned or remain far below completion thresholds due to funding constraints.

The Committee also raised concerns over rising pending bills, demanding clarity on their composition and timelines for settlement. “Current figures show a historical pending bill of Ksh 15.3 billion and another Ksh 2.2 billion for 2024/2025.” They said.

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The legislators further warned that delays in verification of these bills could disrupt operations and undermine service delivery in TVET institutions.

Scholarship funding was also under scrutiny. Legislators sought transparency on beneficiaries, questioning the accuracy of funding projections.

The TVET department confirmed a Ksh 26.74 billion funding gap, with only just over 30,000 students currently supported out of a target exceeding 440,000, highlighting a significant shortfall.

The Department attributed the cuts to reduced donor commitments, which have affected both infrastructure development and equipment rollout across institutions.

The Committee has issued firm directives to the TVET PS to submit a complete list of all ongoing, stalled, and completed projects, including percentage completion and financial status. It also demanded a comprehensive breakdown of pending bills both verified and unverified claims and a full list of scholarship beneficiaries disaggregated by gender and region.

By Obegi Malack