Senator Onyonka seeks inquiry into KLB Governance and Education Policy changes

𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝟐𝟎𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

Senator Richard Onyonka (Kisii) has requested a statement from the Senate Committee on Education regarding governance concerns and leadership transitions at the Kenya Literature Bureau (KLB).

In his request, Senator Onyonka has called on the Committee to examine the procurement processes used by KLB in awarding all active contracts for publishing and supplying books. 

The inquiry should assess the merits of the awards and clarify the extent of the Ministry of Education’s involvement in the procurement process.

Additionally, the Committee is expected to review the procedures KLB followed in acquiring printing and binding machines for the 2024/2025 financial year. The inquiry will determine whether due diligence was conducted and if not, establish whether disciplinary actions have been taken against responsible officials.

The Senator has also raised concerns about the renewal of contracts for managerial officers at KLB, questioning whether due process was followed and why the contract renewals were not officially gazetted. He has urged the Committee to outline corrective actions taken to address the irregularities.

Furthermore, the inquiry will evaluate whether KLB’s human resource practices including appointments, promotions and salary reviews adhere to the principles of equity and fairness.

Beyond governance issues at KLB, Senator Onyonka has also sought clarification from the Senate Committee on Education regarding the Ministry of Education’s decision to remove Mathematics as a compulsory subject for senior school students under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).