The economic stimulus programme started by the government to cushion the country against Covid-19 pandemic has seen public schools in Marsabit County receive desks.
The county with an allocation of Sh22 million has procured 9,340 desks, lockers and chairs with the distribution standing at 95 percent and 75 percent for secondary and primary schools respectively.
The county director of education Mr Apuko Apollo told the County Development Implementation Coordination Committee (CDICC) that the ministry of education had managed the process with much success despite a number of challenges.
Mr Apollo said the items had to be procured from Nairobi after local artisans declined the offer citing lack of capacity hence increasing the cost of transport.
The CDE told the meeting chaired by County Commissioner Paul Rotich that remoteness and poor road network in the county was the main challenge in moving the desks to schools in remote areas of the county.
He said that 7,140 desks for primary schools, 2,200 lockers and chairs for secondary schools had been delivered to ensure that social distancing in classrooms is maintained by pupils and students.
“We are about to deliver the last item to a small number of remaining schools but the sourcing and delivery at our storeroom is complete,” said Mr Apollo adding that logistics for the transportation to some schools in Loiyangalani, Laisamis, North Horr and Sololo sub-counties have been finalized.
The county commissioner asked the CDE to ensure the remaining items were delivered to compliment the hand washing and wearing of masks containment measures against the pandemic.
Mr Rotich while commending the department for the good performance asked the CDE to accelerate any remaining payment demands as the government was keen at doing not only transparent but pleasant business with contractors.
The meeting held at the ACK Hall sought to update the inventory and appraise the progress of development projects being implemented ministries, departments, agencies and SAGAs under the national government.
During the meeting, erratic power supply from the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) was cited as a hurdle to efficient service delivery in Marsabit town.
The county departmental heads complained that many agencies like the county referral hospital, and Huduma centre had resorted to using generators whose cost of running was not sustainable.
The power outages have also affected businesses besides being a threat to security in the town.
Marsabit town is not connected to the national grid and KPLC has always blamed the blackouts to flopping and aging generators.
by Sebastian Miriti
