NAIROBI, Kenya – A nationwide audit of public schools has confirmed that 44,495 learning institutions have been cleared for government capitation, even as investigators uncover a trail of falsified enrolment figures, non-existent schools and systemic data manipulation that may have cost taxpayers nearly Sh1 billion.
The Ministry of Education on Monday revealed that the ongoing verification exercise has so far flagged 87,000 ghost learners and identified 10 schools in 10 counties with zero learners, raising fresh concerns about entrenched fraud in the management of education funds.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the government is now physically inspecting schools with major discrepancies as investigators prepare to pursue officials who inflated enrolment figures to siphon capitation money.
“We have so far uncovered 87,000 ghost learners in public schools. The government will take action against individuals who inflated enrolment figures. Heads must roll,” Ogamba said.
He disclosed that capitation amounting to nearly Sh1 billion remains withheld because learner records submitted by some schools do not match ministry data.
Ogamba said the audit team is reconciling numbers before handing files to investigative agencies.
“We do not want to condemn people falsely. But those unable to explain discrepancies will face consequences. We are a country governed by rules,” he said.
Digital Gaps and Systemic Weaknesses
The verification has exposed structural gaps in school oversight, with only 600 Quality Assurance Officers and 200 auditors monitoring over 53,000 basic education institutions — many in remote areas with limited transport.
The findings align with the Auditor General’s earlier report showing that over Sh4 billion has been lost to falsified enrolment over the past four years.
As of November 10, 246 primary schools and 102 junior schools had not submitted updated enrolment data. All secondary schools have been cleared.
State Department for Basic Education Director General Elyas Abdi said schools with questionable data will be isolated for physical audits once the exercise ends.
Head Teachers Defend Themselves
Kenya Primary Schools Heads Association national chairman Fuad Ali insisted teachers should not be blamed prematurely, pointing instead to glitches in the former NEMIS system.
“When we uploaded learner numbers, the capitation we received was always lower. Those errors did not come from us,” he said, adding that the shift to KEMIS has resolved many of the discrepancies.
MPs Demand Accountability
Lawmakers lashed out at the ministry for the slow pace of action against officials who approved funds for ghost learners.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula questioned why no officer had been interdicted despite glaring fraud.
Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo was blunt:
“Just pinpoint who paid money to these ghost institutions and throw them out of office. It is as simple as A, B, C.”
Kitui South MP Rachael Nyamai expressed alarm that 934 schools received funds the ministry cannot verify.
Kilifi North MP Owen Baya accused long-serving officers of shielding loopholes that enable fund theft:
“Unless you become ruthless, money will continue disappearing. Conduct a radical surgery.”
Ogamba, however, said he cannot interdict anyone before the audit concludes due to litigation risks. He requested two more months to complete the verification.
How the Audit Worked
The ministry relied on three digital platforms for school bio-data, mapping and central oversight.
But inconsistencies between school-level and sub-county submissions triggered deeper investigations.
In some cases, schools submitted data in pictures, wrong formats, or using incorrect identification codes, exposing digital literacy gaps at the institutional level.
Verification covered:
- School identification numbers
- Enrolment totals
- Unique Identification Codes
- Bank account details
- GPS coordinates
- Cross-checking learner IDs with national examination databases
Schools that submitted incorrect data received half of their previous allocation, while those below the minimum enrolment threshold were funded based on verified numbers.
The ministry confirmed that 2,145 primary schools failed to meet the minimum threshold of 45 learners. Ten schools were found with zero learners and have since been closed.
The findings come as the government transitions to the Comprehensive Schools structure, which relies heavily on accurate learner data.
