Mystery of ghost schools gobbling millions of Sh1.3bn infrastructure fund

THE Ministry of Education is facing a fresh multimillion-shilling scandal after revelations that cartels at Jogoo House disbursed millions from the Sh1.3 billion infrastructure fund to ghost schools.

The infrastructure fund is designed to enhance school facilities, including buildings, classrooms, libraries, and laboratories, and to equip them with the necessary resources, such as technology and learning materials.

MPs on Thursday confronted Education CS Julius Ogamba with revelations of how a network of shadowy bureaucrats and rogue ministry officials allegedly colluded to create fictitious schools.

The fake schools were reportedly created, complete with fake enrolment data and fabricated locations, diverting funds under the  ambitious school programme.

Luanda MP Dick Maungu tabled in the committee a list of four schools – two of which were completely non-existent and which were allocated Sh50 million each to improve infrastructure.

The other two - Olbutyo Boys and Olbutyo Girls secondary schools, though existing, are a stone's throw from each other, raising questions on fairness.

The non-existent schools were Bomet High School and Kamuret Secondary School, each receiving Sh50 million.

Maungu further alleged that the powerful cartels at the Education ministry altered the list of schools approved by Parliament and inserted non-existing institutions.

“There is a dark area in the infrastructure funding. Names of schools that did not come from this House found their way into the list and were given millions of shillings,” Maungu said.

“Ghost schools received money despite not approved by this House; there is a strong cartel in your ministry.

“You oversight a ministry full of cartels because, how do you explain that several schools which were in the list did not receive any money and ghost schools were given millions?”

Maungu is questioned how two schools which almost share a fence ended up each getting millions at the expense of deserving schools from other regions which completely missed out.

The lawmaker also asked the CS tabled before the house the list of all schools that benefitted from the Sh1.3 billion fund, insisting most of the beneficiaries are non-existent.

“The reason why the Cabinet Secretary cannot table the list is because of the anomalies.”

Kitutu Masaba MP Clive Gisairo demanded a comprehensive probe into the matter, saying the revelations were shocking.

“You are running a ministry that should be branded a cartel. If the infrastructure fund can be siphoned this way it therefore means that capitation is worse,” Gisairo stated.

CS Ogamba promised a thorough probe and to furnish the House with the full list of beneficiaries.

“I have given clear instructions that we need the list and probably we will visit schools to ascertain whether they exist or not,” Ogamba told the Star.