Uhuru 2016 camppaign idea of issuing class one with digital laptops has taken a anew twist after billions of shillings meant for the project remain unaccounted for.
When President Uhuru Kenyatta announced in 2013 that all the 1.2 million Class One pupils would get laptops, educationists proposed instead that the government consider building computer laboratories but considering it was election year,he politics of convincing voters took front stage.
The government was put on spot about how taxpayers lost Sh16.3 billion through the Class One pupil laptops project by the Information Communication Technology ministry.
During roll-out in May 2016, however, the policy shifted from laptops to tablets due to the cost implications.
Five years and billions of shillings later, rather than transforming into a reality, this grand idea has become rather moot.
According to Auditor General Edward Ouko’s report released on, it shows that payment of Sh15.2 billion as at June 30, 2017 did not include payment vouchers.
In a letter tabled by Leader of Majority Aden Duale, Ouko said that he could not account for the expenditures since payment vouchers were never presented for audit review.
The Ministry of Education has now suspended issuance of tablets to Class One pupils under the digital literacy programme, opting instead to build computer laboratories.
Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang has said that each of the 25,000 public primary schools will get one computer laboratory.
“There has been a policy change in programme from one child-one laptop to the construction of computer laboratories for ICT integration,” Dr Kipsang told National Assembly’s Education Committee while presenting budgetary proposals.
When MPs questioned the plan, Dr Kipsang said that construction of the labs was part of phase two of the project.
The one laptop per child idea in Jubilee’s Digital Learning Programme was meant, ostensibly, to entrench ICT in teaching and learning in primary schools.
Ouko’s report further revealed that Sh603.1 million was spent for the supply of the laptops only as proof of concept after intensive defects were noted.
“The implementation Committee went around to inspect the laptops after supply and commissioning of the gadgets and realized that all had factory defects and were supposed to be replaced by the supplier,” said Ouko
The Auditor General also mentioned that another Sh1.6 million meant for the presidential digital talent programme cannot be accounted for.
There is also the expenditure of Sh28.32 million in county connectivity project expenses whose supporting documents were also not availed to the auditor general for review.