Fake Schools Uncovered Siphoning JSS Capitation

Fake Schools Uncovered Siphoning JSS Capitation

Parliament has expressed serious concerns about alleged widespread corruption in the disbursement of capitation funds to Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) across Kenya. The Budget and Appropriations Committee highlighted that numerous fictitious schools have received these funds at the expense of legitimate, registered schools.

This issue came to the forefront during a public hearing session on the proposed 2024–25 financial budget in Gilgil town. The session revealed that funds intended for genuine schools were diverted to “briefcase” institutions, disrupting the education system. This situation has exacerbated the ongoing strike by JSS teachers, who are demanding better pay and have halted learning in many schools.

Gilgil MP Martha Wangari reported that the diversion of funds had significantly disrupted learning, making it difficult for affected schools to pay staff or procure necessary learning materials and food. She urged Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu to take immediate action to resolve the issue.

Wangari pointed out that inadequate state funding has severely impacted public schools, leading to overcrowded classrooms and insufficient infrastructure to accommodate the increasing number of students.

In addition to the funding issues, Wangari highlighted the dire state of infrastructure in her constituency, worsened by heavy rains that washed away major roads and bridges. She called on the government to release emergency funds to repair the damaged infrastructure, as some schools were flooded or destroyed by the rains.

Nyeri Women Representative Rahab Mukami stated that the committee plans to work on a supplementary budget to provide emergency funds for infrastructure repairs. This supplementary budget aims to address the damage caused by floods, prioritizing schools, roads, and assistance for the elderly.

Baringo counterpart Florence Jematiah noted that their visits to 11 counties revealed that education and infrastructure were the primary challenges facing residents. She mentioned that the supplementary budget would include an additional Ksh 100 million for counties like Nakuru to undertake various projects.

Joshua Mutahi, chairman of the Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA) in Gilgil, acknowledged that public schools in the area urgently need infrastructure rehabilitation. The combined efforts of these parliamentary representatives and the supplementary budget aim to tackle the pressing issues of graft, inadequate funding, and infrastructure damage in the education sector.

Fake Schools Uncovered Siphoning JSS Capitation