The report says the overpayment of subsidies was to 2,610 public secondary schools in different counties.
“The subsidies balance includes an amount of Sh1,815,126,548 being overpayment of subsidies to 2,610 public secondary schools in different counties. The overpayment arose from erroneous computations of July and September, 2019 disbursements, inflation of enrolment numbers in January, 2020, and double payments to some schools,” reads the report.
Accuracy and validity
In the damning report, the auditor also reveals that another Sh26.8 million was sent to schools whose existence was in doubt.
The auditor further shows that five schools who were among the beneficiaries of the disbursements had questionable status as they did not have registration certificates, Teachers Service Commission (TSC) appointment letters and posting of principals, boards of management minutes approving opening of bank accounts and other documents required under the State Department for Early Learning and Basic Education annual guidelines on disbursement of Free Day Secondary Education Funds (FDSE).
Reports the auditor; “In the circumstances, it is not possible to confirm the accuracy and validity of the reported subsidies of Sh58.7 billion for the year ended 30 June, 2020.”
Millions more were paid as rental charges for office space for various State department’s offices in the counties, which the ministry could not explain.
The auditor further questions the authenticity of Sh86 million paid for rent because valid lease agreements and approvals for the procurement of the offices were not provided for verification.
In 2018, a report by the Ministry of Education revealed how the government paid billions of shillings to “ghost” pupils under the Free Primary Education (FPE) project.
Data showed that the total enrollment of pupils in public primary schools then stood at 8.9 million.
The government pays Sh1, 420 per child per year, translating to Sh5.6 billion.
Challenges with acquiring children’s birth certificates, which is mandatory for registering learners in the new National Education Information Management System (Nemis), was also to blame for those yet to be listed, the report said.
Last year, a parliamentary report revealed the names of four publishers contracted by the ministry but whose contract details could not be availed.
The parliamentary watchdog further exposed how a rogue official stole free education cash channelled to one of the fictitious schools, Mundeku Secondary School in Kakamega County.
