Kenyan Universities Face Scrutiny Over Ethnic Bias and Financial Mismanagement
The revelations came during a heated session at Bunge Towers, Parliament Buildings, where Vice Chancellors and Principals faced intense questioning.
The Committee on Public Investments on Governance and Education, chaired by Jack Wanami Wamboka (Bumula), has exposed significant mismanagement in Kenya’s public universities and tertiary institutions, citing ethnic bias in hiring, financial irregularities, and failed technological implementations. Photo/Parliament of Kenya.
By Robert Assad
The Committee on Public Investments on Governance and Education, chaired by MP Jack Wanami Wamboka (Bumula), has exposed significant mismanagement in Kenya’s public universities and tertiary institutions, citing ethnic bias in hiring, financial irregularities, and failed technological implementations.
The revelations came during a heated session at Bunge Towers, Parliament Buildings, where Vice Chancellors and Principals faced intense questioning.
A key issue was the botched implementation of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, costing taxpayers hundreds of millions. The Commission for University Education (CUE) was singled out for a Kshs.45.7 million contract for an Integrated Management Information System awarded in 2018.
Despite Kshs.30.5 million already paid, the project lacks a clear completion date or implementation reports, violating the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Regulations, 2020. Institutions struggled with integration issues and poor vendor choices, highlighting a lack of expert oversight.
Financial irregularities further compounded concerns. CUE failed to remit 90% of its Kshs.80 million surplus, breaching the Public Finance Management Regulations, 2015.
A Kshs.2.5 million discrepancy in a mortgage and car loan scheme also went undocumented, raising questions about accountability. Similarly, Kibabii University was criticized for spending 64% of its revenue on salaries—nearly double the legal 35% ceiling—and for hiring practices lacking ethnic diversity, with 75% of its 430 staff from one community.
The committee demanded immediate reforms to align with national cohesion and fiscal regulations.
Meru National Polytechnic faced scrutiny over payroll irregularities, including missing or duplicate KRA PINs, questionable birth dates, and 143 dubious contracts.
Its ERP system failed to regularize deductions, and construction projects were plagued by unauthorized changes and delays. Lawmakers warned of surcharges for non-compliance with procurement laws.
Kisii National Polytechnic, Kenya School of Law, and the Council of Legal Education were sent back for failing to comply with audit processes or appearing without key officers. They have been summoned to reappear later.
Wamboka reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to transparency and equitable service delivery in education. “We will not tolerate mismanagement of public funds or practices that undermine national unity,” he stated.
The institutions face mounting pressure to implement corrective measures swiftly or risk further sanctions.
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