Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has explained the government’s strategy to eliminate ghost schools, vowing firm action against those behind the fraudulent institutions siphoning public funds.
“If there is a ghost school, the investigation will allow us to arrest those involved,” Ogamba said during an interview on Egesa FM.
He revealed that the ministry has already formed a joint task force with the Auditor General to identify and flag ghost schools nationwide.
To ensure transparency and proper oversight, the ministry will deploy the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS), which will be used to register all legitimate schools and clean up existing data.
Ogamba explained that education funds are sent directly to verified school-owned bank accounts, not individuals, a measure intended to curb misappropriation.
This comes after MPs revealed that part of the Ksh1.3 billion school infrastructure fund was channeled to ghost institutions in what they termed a well-planned fraud by officials within the ministry.
The money, meant to improve learning facilities across the country, was reportedly allocated to fake schools that only existed on paper, complete with fictitious enrolment data and forged locations.
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Cs Ogamba was put to task over the disbursement.
CS Ogamba on New School Fee Structure
The Cabinet Secretary also addressed concerns around university fees. He announced that school fees had been reduced by between 15% and 30%, a decision aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and guardians.
Vice Chancellors have been instructed to update the university portal with the correct fee structures by August 15.
Ogamba urged institutions not to punish students during this transition.
“I told the VCs not to chase away students as we resolved the challenges in the ministry.
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to accountability and citizen engagement: “This government is a listening government.”
Issue on Students Denied Certificates
He also issued a warning to school administrators who withhold student certificates, calling the practice a criminal offense.
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“It’s a criminal offence to keep students’ certificates,” Ogamba said “We are recording all those cases, and we are going to take action.”
He explained that the Ministry of Education is closely monitoring reports from across the country and will not hesitate to prosecute institutions found in violation.
My advice to teachers: give out that certificate
Withholding certificates, often due to unpaid school fees, has long been a contentious issue in Kenya, with critics arguing that it unfairly punishes students and limits their opportunities for further education or employment.
The Ministry has encouraged affected students and parents to report any incidents to local education offices or through official government channels.
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