Kenya’s education system faces a shocking scandal as 50,000 “ghost students” have been flagged in the government’s ongoing data verification exercise, raising fears that billions meant for real pupils may have been misappropriated.
The disclosure by Principal Secretary for Basic Education Julius Bitok before Parliament’s Committee on Education has sent shockwaves through schools and government circles.
“This is unacceptable. We cannot allow fictitious names to rob real children of their future,” PS Bitok said, promising tough action against schools and officials caught in the scheme.
The PS also said that more than 14, 000 schools are yet to receive capitation as the ministry finalise student verification stating that only 17, 400 out of the 32, 000 schools cleared.
The revelation comes as funding is rolled out to 20,000 schools nationwide. Billions in capitation funds are on the move, but phantom enrollments now under scrutiny have raised urgent questions: How much money has been stolen, who benefits, and how deep is the rot?
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Experts warn some schools may have deliberately inflated enrollment to secure higher allocations. Each “phantom child” translates to thousands of shillings meant for books, meals, and desks for actual students.
Parents and teachers’ unions are demanding accountability. “Every shilling stolen is a stolen future,” said one parents’ association leader.
PS Bitok noted the audit is only 60% complete, warning guilty schools risk losing funds and facing criminal investigations, while promising reforms to seal loopholes that have allowed ghost students to haunt classrooms for decades.
By Mercy Kokwon
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