Deep corruption hit Kenya Free Primary Education Fund

student in class at Losengeli Primary School, a rural school in western kenya

students in a class at Losengeli Primary School, a rural school in western Kenya. Pic/blackmambapro

By Kengere Ombasa

Reports that Kshs 1.3 million contributed by the government in Nairobi and the donor community towards Free Primary Education Funds (FPE) may have been mis-appropriated are disgusting, to say the least. This is especially so when it comes hot on the heels of other claims that kshs.75 million meant for SEPU and Kshs. 83million for KESSP programs have been stolen.

The Ministry of Education and the Kenya government in general need to come out clean. If it is indeed true that money has been lost, senior staff at the Ministry of Education cannot escape blame. People need to take responsibility for their acts of omission or commission.

Converted into cash cow

Following the above, there is need for more transparency and accountability in the use of funds being channeled to the FPE and FSE programmes. Since its inception in 2003, the FPE program has greatly transformed the country’s primary education sector. This has enabled majority of primary school pupils to access education resulting in an increased enrollments that have left schools bursting to the seams.

The graft reports that, however threaten to soil yet another well meaning project, that seem to have been converted into cash cow by few corrupt elements in our society. However, it is gratifying that the ministry of education has acted fast by suspending 18 of its senior officers .

The World Bank and KACC have instituted investigations into the scam. Education minister Prof. Sam M. Ongering, has pledged stern action against those found culpable to restore confidence and deter other from such forms of graft.

Unscrupulous business men

This Primary School student in western Kenya, enjoy outside the classroom during breaktime

This Primary School student in western Kenya, playing outside the classroom during breaktime

It is worth noting that management of FPE and FSE funds cascades down to the school level. A worrying trend about the FPE programme has to do with cases text books are purchased, delivered to school, and then quietly returned to the bookshops corrupt head teachers are able to do this in collaboration with some unscrupulous business men.

Other cases abound where, records in schools indicate that, books have been delivered, when in reality not a single book has been taken to the schools. There are also other instances where the FPE funds end up in accounts of Institutions they were not meant for. These issues raise eyebrows especially when the program has been in place for the last seven years.