The Ministry of Education is tightening its grip on fraudulent enrolment after uncovering thousands of ghost learners in the ongoing audit of basic education institutions.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba revealed that at least four schools had presented inflated enrolment figures, falsely claiming 20,000 students. The government is now probing whether these students exist or if the schools themselves are non-existent.
The audit, launched a month ago, has so far reviewed 29,000 out of 32,000 primary and secondary schools in Kenya. The findings have prompted concerns in Parliament, with senators demanding accountability over misuse of public funds.
Mr Ogamba explained that the government has already disbursed Sh18 billion for the third term, including Sh5.9 billion for national examinations set for October and November. More than five million candidates will sit for assessments, including the Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA), the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), and the Kenya Intermediate Level Education Assessment (KILEA).
Despite the revelations, funding to schools continues, with Sh5.7 billion directed to junior schools, Sh10 billion to secondary schools, Sh1.8 billion to primary schools, and Sh39 million to special needs institutions. However, senators have raised questions after reports emerged that some schools received as little as Sh100 in capitation, highlighting discrepancies in disbursement.
Nominated Senator Catherine Mumma urged the ministry to prosecute individuals behind ghost schools, while Senator Seki Lenku called for collaboration with local chiefs and state agencies to ensure accurate enrolment figures.
In response, the CS promised that the upcoming Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) would ensure transparency, ending loopholes that allowed ghost learners to siphon funds.
The verification exercise, covering the last 6,000 schools, is expected to conclude within two weeks. Until then, the Ministry faces mounting pressure to restore credibility in how education resources are managed.
