Four private universities are under scrutiny to account for millions of government funds that were received during the fiscal year 2016/17 to 2022/23.
The Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education uncovered substantial financial irregularities within these institutions.
These discrepancies range from instances where students labeled as government-sponsored were not placed by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), to discrepancies in student enrollment figures.
Among the findings were cases of over-placement, duplication of student records resulting in excess capitation payments, and funds disbursed to students who had deferred their studies or were on extended academic leave.
Prof. Henry Kiplagat, the Vice Chancellor of Kabarak University, who faced questions regarding the allocation of Kshs. 550,312 to 12 students designated as government sponsored students, despite not being placed by KUCCPS.
Further scrutiny revealed that Ksh. 139,224,183 had been allocated to 2,872 students who had been with the university for periods longer than their expected durations of the programs undertaken.
The committee also flagged a duplication of 19 students leading to an over payment of Ksh. 965,452 in capitation.
Additionally, the Auditor-General revealed that Ksh.12,309,688 was disbursed to 212 students who were either on deferment or longer academic leave.
Other discrepancies included Ksh. 384,259 disbursed to nine students who had already graduated from the university during the review period.
Furthermore, out of 13,190 students placed by KUCCPS, only 11,279 enrolled, indicating a variance of 1,911 students.
Additionally, the placement of 2,164 students exceeded the declared capacity by seven, raising concerns about enrollment accuracy and resource allocation.
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Disbursement of Millions to non-KUCCPS Students
Similarly, Prof. James Kombo, VC of St. Paul’s University, was hard-pressed to explain the disbursement of Ksh. 12,312,650 for 253 students not placed by KUCCPS.
The lawmakers cited further anomalies where a sum of Kshs.739,455 was granted to 15 students who had been in the university for periods longer than their expected durations of the programs undertaken.
There was also a case of duplication of charges for 36 students leading to an over payment of Kshs. 1,458,333 in capitation.
Further, there was a disbursement of Ksh. 1,512,753 on account of thirty (30) students who had graduated from the university during the period under review.
Despite being designated for a placement of 5,034 students by KUCCPS, only 3,518 students enrolled, resulting in a variance of 1,516 students.
Additionally, an extra 1,004 students were placed without the university declaring vacancies for the period under review.
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KCA and Riara Universities Loot over Ksh 4OM
Furthermore, KCA University Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaiah Wakindiki, was put on the spot to explain how a sum of Ksh. 38,662,479 was disbursed to 910 students who had not been placed by KUCCPS.
Though the university had an initial placement of 13,573 students by KUCCPS, only 10,138 students had enrolled, resulting to a variance of 3,435 students.
In Riara University, a sum of Ksh. 3,006,479 had been granted to 89 students who had been with the university for periods longer than their expected durations of the programs undertaken.
The committee however sought answers from the VC Prof. Robert Gateru on why capitation for 347 out 1135 students who did not report had not been returned to the State Department.
Riara university had also registered an over placement of 121 students more than their declared capacity of 496 students.
The Committee directed that the office of the Auditor General reconciles its data with the universities and presents it before the lawmakers in two weeks.
