Fredrick Odiero
The Principal of Kanyamedha Mixed secondary school in Kisumu County and her former deputy could come face to face with sleuths if an incriminating report released by the Ministry of Education about the poor management of the institution is fully implemented.
The report prepared by the County director of education Isaac Atebe details massive graft, disregard of procurement procedures and forgery of documents at the school and recommends disciplinary action against the school principal Lydia Opiyo and her former deputy principal Elijah Odhiambo over the graft claims.
Mr Atebe wants the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate the forgery claims. He directed County Teachers Service Commission (TSC) director Ibrahim Rugut to take action against Opiyo and Odhiambo.
Atebe claimed that Opiyo should be held responsible for violating Public Procurement Asset and Disposal Act 2015, Code of Regulations for Teachers 2015 and Public Finance Management Act 2012.
Opiyo is accused of giving false information to the Ministry of Education concerning tender processes, levying a fee of between Kshs 12,000 to Kshs 15,000 annually violating the approved annual amount of Kshs 9,000 for lunch program, levying Kshs 5,100 per student for school uniform against the Ministry of Education Free Day School Education policy and mismanaging the 2020 Maintenance Improvement Fund (MIF) of a twin laboratory.
Atebe also asked Rugut to immediately effect the necessary changes to safeguard public resources and ensure effective supervision for the benefit of the 780 learners in the school.
In the report also presented to the PS of Education, Audit- Director Quality Assurance and Standards, Nyanza regional director of education, County commissioner and the school’s Board of Management chairperson, Atebe said that a team of quality assurance officers, auditors and TSC officials camped in the school earlier this year to probe the allegations raised by Kanyamedha school stakeholders against Opiyo.
Her deputy Odhiambo, allegedly collected an unspecified amount of levies from parents and did not disclose to Opiyo.
The principal however dismissed the allegations blaming her deputy and the B.O.M chairperson for her woes.
