Kandara Technical and Vocational College (TVC) is under scrutiny after auditors flagged more than Ksh43.3 million in unpaid student fees, exposing weaknesses in its fee collection and debt recovery systems.
Appearing before the Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance on Wednesday, college officials were pressed to explain why more than half of the institution’s billed fees for the financial year ending June 2025 were still uncollected.
The committee, chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wanami Wamboka, was concerned about the outstanding balance highlighted in the latest audit report.
According to findings from the Auditor-General, the college had collected Ksh 41.3 million, representing just 49% of its total billed fees, leaving an unpaid balance of Ksh 43.3 million, or 51%.
The report also criticized the college for continuing to provide services to students with outstanding balances, in violation of its own Finance Manual and Credit Control and Debtor Policy.
Committee members questioned why the institution had failed to enforce its debt recovery mechanisms, raising concerns about its financial discipline and long-term sustainability.
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“This level of uncollected revenue raises serious concerns about financial discipline and the sustainability of the institution,” said Wamboka.
In defense, college management attributed the bulk of the unpaid fees to delays in the disbursement of government-sponsored funds, including capitation, HELB loans, scholarships, and bursaries.
They stated that the Ksh 41.3 million collected reflected actual fees paid by students, while the outstanding Ksh 43.3 million stemmed from unreleased funds from government-sponsored students.
The college management stated that government-sponsored funds are managed by external agencies, not by the institution and they continue to offer training in good faith, while awaiting disbursement.
However, MPs expressed concerns that the college’s approach undermined its own financial controls, particularly given the lack of consistent enforcement measures such as withholding examination results or transcripts for students with unpaid fees.
The committee also inquired whether the college had a structured debt tracking system tied to individual students and sponsors.
In response, college management assured the committee that it had updated its accounts receivable records and was actively following up with the Ministry of Education and other sponsoring bodies to secure payment. “We have follow-up letters and reconciled debtor records to support our position. We are committed to pursuing these receivables and improving our collection framework,” officials stated.
Despite these explanations, the committee emphasized that the management of Kandara TVC holds ultimate responsibility for ensuring the accuracy of financial statements and enforcing prudent debt management practices.
Wamboka directed the college to strengthen its debt recovery mechanisms and adhere strictly to its financial policies, warning that continued laxity could expose the institution to financial risk.
By Obegi Malack
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