Mismanagement of Funds at Secondary Schools
Mismanagement of Funds at Secondary Schools
Due to financial mismanagement, Auditor General Nancy Gathungu has drawn attention to a number of secondary schools. Gathungu voiced concerns with unsubstantiated expenditures relating to tuition fees, boarding facility payments, emoluments, and capitation grants in the first audit report of public secondary schools. It is said that the schools were unable to present documentation of their use of these money.
Approximately 30 schools were scrutinized in the reports, with Gathungu questioning the implementation of various development projects, highlighting that many were in violation of the law. Among the schools under scrutiny are Eldoro Girls and Kitumbi High School in Taita Taveta county, Mivumoni Secondary School in Kwale, Kanyawanga High School in Migori, and others across different counties.
Concerns were voiced, namely, at St Patrick’s Naitiri High School over unsupported tuition and boarding school payments totaling Sh2.2 million in the absence of purchase orders and bids. Unsupported revenue from the Parents Association, totaling Sh6.1 million, was received by Eldoro Girls Secondary School but was not put into the school account.
Gathungu also raised questions about various expenditures, including service gratuity, local transport, administration costs, and personal emoluments, amounting to millions of shillings. The accuracy and completeness of these expenditures could not be confirmed due to missing vouchers and discrepancies in the provided documentation.
The investigation brought to light issues with the imprecise and insufficient documentation of monetary transactions, which have an effect on these schools’ general accountability and transparency. The results of Gathungu’s study highlight the necessity of improved financial management procedures in these establishments in order to guarantee appropriate use of public funds and compliance with regulatory standards.
