Principals from various national schools are scheduled to appear before Members of Parliament (MPs) to address audit queries concerning the misappropriation of funds, as highlighted in multiple reports by Auditor General Nancy Gathungu.
MPs on the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education, chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, stated they have decided to begin by meeting with the principals of national schools before extending invitations to principals from extra-county and county schools.
During a committee meeting with Gathungu, Wamboka expressed, “We are ready for the rollout of the programme and request that the Auditor provides us with audit reports for all National Secondary Schools to be part of the pilot program.”
Among the schools that have already been audited by Gathungu and are expected to appear before the committee are Maranda High School, Nyamira Girls High School, Moi Girls High School, Sigor Girls High School, Chania Girls High School, St. Francis (Mang’u) High School, Friends Boys High School – Misikhu, Rigoma Girls Secondary School, Our Lady of Mercy – Rangenyo Girls Secondary School, and St. Mathias Busia High School.
Wamboka also urged Gathungu to establish a tracking mechanism for all audit reports by counter-signing every document requested and submitted by both parties for accountability, aiming to prevent unscrupulous officers from evading responsibility.
“We want to pioneer the audit with national schools. We have agreed to start with them before we proceed to the other institutions. Madam Auditor, please be assured that we will examine their books,” Wamboka stated.
The committee’s remarks followed Gathungu’s disclosure that over 450 schools have been audited out of the 9,000 required. She affirmed, “The Office of the Auditor General is prepared to ensure that the audit process is completed and forwarded to Parliament for further consideration.” The audited schools span national, extra-county, county, and sub-county levels. Previously, the Auditor only assessed state departments within the Ministry of Education.
Gathungu added, “The OAG has fostered a collaborative working relationship with the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education by providing accurate, insightful, and timely audit reports, along with recommendations whose implementation we request the Committee to follow up.”
Financial Irregularities
The audit follows Auditor General Nancy Gathungu’s revelation of widespread financial misconduct and significant irregularities, which include unauthorized fee hikes and questionable expenditures. Additionally, there were unsupported and unaccounted-for capitations and grants provided to various schools for the construction of development projects within their facilities.
The audits for the years 2021, 2022, and part of 2023 also raised concerns about the schools’ decisions to transfer funds to the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KSSHA), a welfare organization comprised solely of school principals, which is not recognized in government funding.
During a committee meeting with various principals from technical institutions—including Moi Teachers’ College, Baringo National Polytechnic, Narok West Technical Training Institute (TTI), Naivasha Technical and Vocational College (TVC), Turbo TVC, and Kaiboi National Polytechnic—to respond to audit queries for various financial years, the committee expressed serious concerns.
Members took issue with how some institutions had engaged in financial irregularities, misappropriation of funds, and irregular procurement practices. Consequently, the MPs threatened to impose sanctions on the principals, heads of accounting, and human resources managers, recommending that they be investigated by various agencies and passing a resolution declaring them unfit to hold office.
Specifically regarding Narok West TTI, Principal David Maru struggled to justify the institution’s expenditure of Sh 688,140 on domestic travel and subsistence allowances, as it lacked supporting documentation showing the journey’s purpose, evidence of travel, and actual work performed.
Maru was also pressed to clarify the payment of Sh 316,000 to board members as sitting allowances, which was contrary to the law, prompting the committee to direct that the individuals involved be surcharged. Furthermore, he faced questioning on the non-compliance with licensing and registration requirements for trainers, following a payment of Sh 460,020 to unlicensed and unregistered trainers by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Board.
The audit also highlighted irregular procurement of consumables amounting to Sh 1,362,758, which had been procured using a low-value procurement method that exceeded the prescribed maximum threshold, resulting in a breach of the law.
