Schools face funding crisis as data errors stall disbursements
Internal reports reveal that 719 schools provided incorrect bank details, risking misdirected or delayed funds, while around 900 schools submitted incomplete data, leaving many learners unregistered.
Thousands of students are yet to receive government funding after numerous schools submitted flawed information to the Ministry of Education (MoE), delaying critical allocations.
The ministry has tied the release of funds to an ongoing verification exercise, ensuring only institutions with accurate records are paid.
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Internal reports reveal that 719 schools provided incorrect bank details, risking misdirected or delayed funds, while around 900 schools submitted incomplete data, leaving many learners unregistered.
Another 250 schools used wrong templates or formats, and 80 uploaded corrupted files, blank forms, or failed to include learners’ Unique Personal Identification (UPI) numbers.
These funding setbacks are now affecting day-to-day operations, coming four weeks into the final term of the academic year.
Counties hardest hit include Bungoma, Kisii, Busia, Baringo, Kericho, Kakamega, Kitui, and Nairobi, where multiple schools were cited for errors ranging from locked files to missing UPI details.
Other regions struggling with similar issues include Bomet, Elgeyo Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Isiolo, Kajiado, Kiambu, Kilifi, Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Kwale, Laikipia, Lamu, Machakos, Makueni, Mandera, Marsabit, Meru, Migori, Mombasa, Murang’a, Nakuru, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Nyandarua, Nyeri, Samburu, Siaya, Taita Taveta, Tana River, Tharaka Nithi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana, Uasin Gishu, Vihiga, Wajir, and West Pokot.
During a National Assembly Education Committee session, Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok disclosed that the verification process has already revealed over 50,000 unaccounted-for students in secondary schools, pointing to serious discrepancies in enrolment records.
“So far, we have been able to disburse funds to about 17,500 schools: 5,500 primary out of 9,500, 5,732 secondary, 5,525 junior schools, and 600 special institutions. We have found that more than 50,000 secondary students so far cannot be accounted for, especially in secondary schools.
That is the reality. In secondary schools, the numbers are not adding up. There are quite several students being reported separately. For primary and junior, the trend is slightly different, with enrolments appearing higher than expected,” he said.
Bitok explained that this discrepancy amounts to an estimated loss of Sh1.1 billion every year, or roughly Sh4.4 billion over four years of secondary education.
He noted that while primary and junior school records are still under review, the anomalies are most significant in secondary schools.
So far, more than 60 per cent of the 32,000 schools nationwide have been cleared and received funding, with the rest still undergoing verification.
Education Committee Chair Julius Melly called on authorities to ensure decisive action against those involved in creating fake schools or falsifying enrolment figures, warning that such practices undermine government efforts and drain public resources.
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