The principals, representing Bushiangala, Butere, Maasai Mara and Kenya Methodist Universities, Mukiria Technical Training Institute (TTI), and Nkabune Technical Training Institute, appeared before the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education on Wednesday, June 19. They were tasked with explaining their controversial decisions which have now raised significant concerns about the governance and financial management within these institutions.
The Public Investments Committee is scrutinizing the financial expenditures of these six institutions for the Financial Years 2016/17 – 2022/23. The investigation was prompted by glaring discrepancies identified in the Auditor General’s report, which highlighted unauthorized employment and questionable financial practices.
- Irregular Hiring Practices: Principals of the six institutions hired new employees without adhering to the established recruitment procedures. This included bypassing competitive hiring processes and failing to advertise job vacancies as required by law.
- Misuse of Public Funds: The report found that public funds were used to pay salaries of the irregularly hired staff. This misuse of taxpayer money has sparked outrage and demands for accountability.
- Lack of Transparency: The principals failed to provide adequate documentation or justification for their hiring decisions. This lack of transparency has raised red flags about the overall governance of these institutions.
The committee’s statement emphasized the seriousness of the situation: “House Committee has questioned the managements of six learning institutions over their financial expenditures for the Financial Year 2016/17 – 2022/23 following glaring revelations by the Auditor General.”
During the committee meeting, the principals struggled to justify their actions. Some cited urgent staffing needs and bureaucratic delays as reasons for bypassing standard procedures, while others remained evasive or silent on the matter. The committee members, however, remained unsatisfied with these explanations and demanded thorough investigations and appropriate actions.
Implications and Next Steps: The exposure of these irregularities has significant implications for the education sector in Kenya. It not only undermines the credibility of the affected institutions but also raises broader questions about governance and accountability within public educational institutions.
The Public Investments Committee is expected to recommend stringent measures to address these issues, including possible disciplinary actions against the implicated principals and a review of the hiring and financial management practices across all public colleges and universities.
Furthermore, the Ministry of Education has been called upon to implement stricter oversight mechanisms to prevent similar occurrences in the future. This may involve enhanced auditing processes, regular compliance checks, and more robust enforcement of recruitment and financial management policies.
As investigations continue, the public awaits the committee’s final report and the actions that will follow to ensure integrity and accountability in Kenya’s higher education system.
