NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 11 – Head of Public Service Felix Koskei has warned school administrators against inflating student enrolment figures to attract higher government funding, saying the practice undermines accountability and amounts to misuse of public resources.
Koskei said recent audit findings had raised concerns over discrepancies between the number of learners reported in government systems and the actual numbers present in schools.
“The capitation funds are intended to ensure that every learner has access to quality education within a conducive learning environment,” he said.
“It is therefore imperative that the systems used to plan, allocate and manage these resources are handled with the highest level of integrity.”
He spoke during a virtual meeting that brought together more than 11,000 school leaders across the country, including principals, deputy principals, heads of finance and procurement, as well as members of Boards of Management.
Koskei said verification exercises had revealed inconsistencies in data submitted through government education management systems, warning that falsifying learner numbers to secure additional funds will not be tolerated.
“To be very clear, any manipulation of learner data or violation of the law in order to secure additional public funds will not be tolerated by the government,” he said.
He emphasised that the credibility of Kenya’s education system depends on accurate reporting and responsible management of public funds.
Koskei said his office is driving a “Zero-Fault Audit Campaign” aimed at promoting transparency and prudent use of public resources across government institutions, including schools.
The campaign, he noted, comes at a time when the country is operating under a constrained fiscal environment, making accountability in the use of public funds critical.
He urged school administrators to strengthen compliance with financial and administrative regulations and ensure all data submitted through official systems reflects the actual situation on the ground.
Koskei also announced plans to strengthen internal audit frameworks in public schools to improve financial oversight.
He directed the National Treasury of Kenya to initiate legal and administrative measures to align internal audit arrangements in schools with the country’s public finance management framework.
The move, he said, will also see the establishment of financial and audit committees in public schools to enhance transparency and accountability.
Koskei raised concerns about procurement irregularities in some schools, noting that compliance with procurement laws in certain institutions remains below 23 percent.
“We have realised there are many challenges in the management of public resources in secondary schools, particularly in procurement processes and record keeping,” he said.
He warned against conflicts of interest where members of school Boards of Management supply goods and services to the same institutions they oversee.
“Sometimes members of Boards of Management are the same suppliers of what is required in schools. This must stop,” he said, urging institutions to strictly follow procurement laws and engage independent suppliers.
Beyond financial management, Koskei also pointed to poor maintenance of school infrastructure as a concern, saying some institutions had deteriorating facilities despite having management structures in place.
He further cautioned against the misuse of school assets such as buses for private purposes without proper accounting.
Koskei called on school leaders to maintain discipline in learning institutions and guard against external interference in school management.
The meeting was also attended by Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Teachers Service Commission Evaline Mitei, and TSC Chairman Jamleck Muturi.
