Mang’u High School has come under scrutiny over long-standing student fee arrears and weaknesses in financial management, with MPs calling for a lasting solution to debts that have remained on the institution’s books for more than a decade.
The school’s chief principal, Bernard Mwangi Kingah, appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Governance and Education as lawmakers examined queries raised by the Auditor-General on the management of school finances.
The audit also flagged discrepancies in reported parent-contribution income, documentation for bank accounts and cash books, retention payments for a dormitory project and the transfer of funds to the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA).
Mang’u has about 2,800 students, 137 teachers and 79 non-teaching staff and occupies approximately 209 hectares.
A major issue before the committee was accounts receivable amounting to Sh19.9 million. The Auditor-General said the balance had initially lacked a detailed breakdown showing students’ names, admission numbers and outstanding amounts, although the school later provided the information.
MPs then turned their attention to students who leave school with unpaid fees, particularly those from financially disadvantaged families.
Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje asked how the school deals with students who complete their studies despite owing fees.
However, the Principal said the institution does not send students home over unpaid fees once they have reported to school.
“We don't send them back home for school fees at all once the students have come to school.”
He also said the school does not withhold certificates because of unpaid fees, despite some debts dating back 10 years.
“Mang'u High School has not retained certificates. Yes, there are students who have been having arrears for the last 10 years,” Kingah said.
MP Thuddues Nzambia proposed that the government explore ways of addressing debts that have remained unpaid for years, while committee chairman Dickson Maungu said such balances could not remain on the school’s books indefinitely.
Maungu advised the school board to formulate recommendations and seek approval from the Ministry of Education on how to deal with the old debts.
The audit also questioned a Sh1.51 million retention payment made on a dormitory construction project. The amount represented about 62 percent of the total retention sum of Sh2.43 million, exceeding the 50 percent threshold cited in the audit.
The school attributed the payment to delays in completing the project and said it had since changed its procedures to prevent a repeat.
The Auditor-General also raised questions over Sh1.75 million transferred to KESSHA, saying value for money could not be confirmed. The school disputed the description of the funds as membership fees, saying they supported co-curricular activities and professional workshops.