The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that a publishing company printed one million French textbooks that were ultimately unnecessary. These textbooks were intended for Grade 7 students, but French was only offered in one school per targeted county. The books were distributed to schools in Nakuru, Bungoma, and Kakamega, as well as to a school for the deaf in Kwale and another for the blind in Likoni, where they could not be integrated into the curriculum.
Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has criticized the contract, questioning its effectiveness given the lack of adapted versions for special needs students and delays in book delivery. Gathungu raised concerns about whether a needs assessment was conducted before the tender was awarded, and highlighted that some students received textbooks only after two academic terms had passed.
Additionally, the report notes a significant financial discrepancy: taxpayers could lose up to Sh740 million from a stalled project to build an education resource center at KICD’s Nairobi headquarters. The project, which began in May 2013 with a contract sum of Sh786 million, remains incomplete, with Sh724 million already paid for contractual work and Sh15 million for lease-way costs.
The audit also reveals issues with the management of funds. Donors directly transferred Sh44 million to KICD without going through the National Treasury, violating the Public Finance Management Act of 2012. KICD is also criticized for overspending Sh185 million beyond approved budgets, including Sh136 million allocated for the digital literacy program but spent on other areas. Furthermore, the institute failed to remit Sh110 million in excess revenues to the exchequer and improperly reallocated Sh165 million from the digital literacy program to curriculum reforms.
Overall, the audit indicates serious concerns about financial mismanagement and lack of accountability at KICD.
