Lugari Member of parliament, MP Nabii Nabwera has urged the government to stamp its authority and bring to book those who looted funds meant for schools amounting to over Ksh54 billion from the Ministry of Education (MoE).
MP Nabii Nabwera who sits in both the Parliamentary Accounts (PAC) and the Education Committee, said it was time the law enforcers cracked the whip considering the magnitude of the offense and its repercussions.
“The director of public prosecution (DPP) should prompt the directorate of criminal investigation (DCI) to hunt down the rogue cartel behind the education funding syndicate at the MoE,” he said.
Speaking in his constituency at Lwandeti DEB primary school while commissioning grade 9 classrooms at the same time launching the construction of storey classrooms, the vocal MP said it was shocking to notice the level graft some officials from the MoE and treasury had developed to swindle the government funds generated from taxes.
“Now it is time for the DPP through DCI to stop chasing demonstrators, the real elephant is in the house and they should nab all those involved” he called.
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Nabwera wondered why would some officials decide to swindle funds meant for a poor child in Mandera, Teso, Turkana across the country meant to facilitate their education and expect to walk scot-free while majority of Kenyan parents are forced to dig deeper into their pockets to remit taxes to government.
He at the same time called on those involved in the scandal to present themselves before being apprehended by the sleuths.
The lawmaker also said it was time the government stamped its authority by not only sacking those involved but recovering the Billions before jailing them to suffer for their crimes against the innocent Kenyan learner.
According the Auditor report recently released, in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial year report, misappropriation of funds was unearthed with free day secondary school(FDSS) losing (Ksh31Billion),free primary education (Ksh16Billion) while special needs education in secondary schools lost (Ksh7Billion) raising concerns over the transparency and accountability within the ministry of education and its affiliates.
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Nabwera said the alleged scheme is a well calculated heist between corrupt officials who facilitates the disbursement of the said funds to 33 ghost schools, which somehow appears on the national education management information system (NEMIS) database but are only operational on paper, and have no physical existence.
For over four years, it has been revealed that government lost Billions of shillings through funding of non-existing schools and which has left the country’s school capitation deficit staggering at Ksh.117Billion.
It is on record that, discrepancies between NEMIS and actual enrolment led to over funding of 723 institutions of which 354 secondary schools got Ksh3.5Billion, 99 junior secondary school was allocated Ksh30.8 Million while 272 from primary sector had Ksh.799Million.
The audit report confirms that the schools are indeed in the system but cannot be visibly be traced on the ground.
By WAKHUNGU ANDANJE
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