The government has closed nonexistent secondary schools which have been receiving public capitation funds every financial year.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba told Parliament on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, that at least ten schools across the country have been shut down for lacking students, sparking a sweeping investigation into possible fraud within the Ministry of Education.
Ogamba revealed that an audit by the Office of the Auditor-General exposed several schools listed in ministry records that, upon physical verification, did not exist.
“The report shows schools that received government capitation were nonexistent,” he told lawmakers.
“Among them are Kiria Secondary School in Nyandarua, Dr Machage Maheto in Migori, Ragia Forest High School in Kiambu, Mwandi Mixed Secondary School in Kirinyaga, Friends Bulovi in Kakamega, Loiwat High School in Baringo, Ngamba School in Murang’a, Tangara Secondary School in Narok, Maji Mazuri Mixed Secondary School in Baringo, and Fr Leo Staples Stars in West Pokot.” He stated.
Migosi noted that ministry officials who visited the affected schools attributed the closures to dwindling student populations.
The CS insisted that historical funding records will be scrutinized to determine whether taxpayers’ money was irregularly disbursed.
“We must establish whether funds were previously released to these schools and if fraud occurred,” he stated.
Ogamba further disclosed that verification of 934 junior secondary and primary schools is still underway, despite the institutions already receiving 30 percent of their capitation based on the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS) data.
Members of Parliament, visibly angered, accused ministry officials of negligence and possible collusion.
Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala demanded accountability, likening the issue to recent graft scandals in other ministries.
“They must know the accounts and signatories. The Ministry of Health recently arrested people who had stolen SHA funds , the same should happen here,” he declared.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula pressed Ogamba for immediate disciplinary measures, asking how many officers had been interdicted for “this criminal act.”
In response, Ogamba confirmed that the auditor-general’s report has been handed over to the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) for further investigation.
“Action will be taken against all those found culpable,” he reiterated.