Public secondary school principals will soon be required to defend how they have managed billions of shillings in taxpayers’ money after Parliament opened a new chapter in the oversight of school finances by summoning them to respond to Auditor-General’s findings.
The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education said the exercise will start with Category C1 schools before being extended to Category C2 (Extra County), Category C3 (County) and Category C4 (Day) schools across the country.
The move places public secondary schools under direct parliamentary scrutiny for the first time, joining public universities, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and teachers’ training colleges, whose financial records have routinely been examined by lawmakers.
Committee chairperson Dick Maungu said the decision was reached after the committee started receiving audit reports on secondary schools, exposing a long-standing gap in accountability despite the huge amounts of public funds handled by the institutions.
“We have begun receiving audit reports on secondary schools and very soon we shall be summoning principals of those institutions. These schools oversee huge amounts of public funds, yet they have never appeared before us for oversight,” Maungu said, adding that the committee had developed a framework to enable principals to respond personally to audit queries raised by the Auditor-General.
According to the committee, the first hearings will involve Category C1 schools, formerly national schools, because they receive government capitation, collect fees from thousands of learners and oversee infrastructure projects worth millions of shillings.
The schools include Alliance High School, Mang’u High School, Kenya High School, Nairobi School, Pangani Girls, Lenana School, Maranda High School, Kagumo High School, St Patrick’s High School Iten, Maseno School, Kapsabet Boys and Mama Ngina Girls, among others.
Category C1 schools now number more than 200 following the recategorisation of several extra-county schools during the transition to the Competency-Based Education system.
Maungu said Parliament could no longer ignore institutions handling large public budgets while continuing to question others managing far smaller amounts.
“Sometimes we examine a TVET institution with about 120 students managing less than Sh10 million, yet a secondary school with more than 2,000 students receives larger amounts of public money without ever appearing before the committee. That is the gap we want to close,” he said.
The planned hearings come as many public secondary schools continue to struggle with delayed and incomplete government capitation, leaving institutions unable to meet some of their financial obligations.
The funding shortfalls have forced many schools to accumulate debts, delay payments to suppliers and struggle to provide meals, learning materials and other basic services. Some institutions have also sent learners home over unpaid fees as they grapple with cash flow challenges.
The scrutiny follows repeated concerns raised by the Auditor-General over unsupported expenditure, procurement irregularities, weak internal controls and poor accountability in public institutions.
Lawmakers say requiring principals to appear in person will help determine whether schools are complying with public finance laws and whether concerns raised in audit reports are being addressed.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba welcomed the decision, saying tighter oversight would strengthen accountability in the use of public resources.
“We welcome this oversight because it will ensure that the resources allocated to our schools are used prudently and for the purposes for which they were intended,” Mr Ogamba said.
The National Parents Association also supported the exercise but cautioned Parliament against turning the hearings into a campaign against school heads.
Association chairman Silas Obuhatsa said parents have for years questioned how schools spend public funds, especially when learners are frequently sent home because of financial constraints.
“We welcome the move if principals are summoned to explain how public funds are being used. For a long time, we have seen schools sending learners home because they claim they have no money,” he said.
Obuhatsa said the committee should rely on audit findings when questioning principals and ensure school heads are treated fairly.
“The committee should base its inquiries on credible audit findings and evidence where there are concerns about financial management. The process should also give principals an opportunity to clear their names where no wrongdoing has occurred,” Obuhatsa said.
School heads have also backed the hearings, saying they are prepared to explain how every shilling received from the government has been spent while also highlighting the financial difficulties schools continue to face.
Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (Kessha) national chairman Willie Kuria said principals viewed the exercise as an opportunity to explain the realities facing schools.
“We have no problem appearing before Parliament if summoned. In fact, we welcome the opportunity because it will also allow us to explain the reality on the ground,” said Mr Kuria, who is also the chief principal of Murang’a High School.
Kuria said schools should not be judged without considering delays in capitation releases. Although the government allocates Sh22,244 annually for every learner, he said institutions rarely receive the full amount, forcing them to borrow, postpone development projects and accumulate debts.
“How do we explain spending money that has not been fully disbursed? We have appeared before Parliament before through Kessha to appeal for the release of the capitation deficit. We hope Parliament will also ensure schools receive the funds they are owed. Once the full capitation is remitted, we will gladly account for every shilling,” Kuria said.
The committee said the hearings will be conducted in phases, starting with Category C1 schools before moving to Category C2, C3 and C4 institutions. The exercise is expected to introduce direct parliamentary oversight over the management of public funds in secondary schools, with principals required to answer audit questions on the use of taxpayers’ money.