A month after President Uhuru Kenyatta toured Dean Achesa and Patrick Kamojo's workshop in Mtindwa along Outering Road to assess the production of school desks, the two carpenters are yet to be awarded the tender.
The procurement process has taken longer than expected. School heads have expressed fears over the lack of desks for schools to reopen gradually.
President Uhuru Kenyatta launched the Ksh1.9 billion school desk project last month, but the tour that gave hopes to the artisans is now dwindling.
"Since he departed, even the desks that we had made… we haven't got any job. The ones you are seeing here are for private schools. " Peter Owino, one of the Carpenter said.
The artisans were subjected to evaluation exercise after the president's visit. They are now complaining that the tender has taken over a month despite directive that only local carpenters would be considered in the project.
The carpenters now want the government to expedite the process as they are heavily endangered after investing over Sh2,000,000 on the project.
School heads have expressed concerns over the delayed supply of desks in time as it would be a nightmare for them when schools resume normally.
"For standard 4, the children have been sharing three learners per desk. So it is going to be a challenge when other pupils resume because we are now using desks which were used by other classes." Lidia Namisi, a headteacher at Nzoia Primary School said.
For now, the carpenters are busy focused on serving private schools for the placed orders ahead of the reopening as they await the government's promise.
