The education sector has been rocked by a bombshell revelation: 50,000 students in secondary schools have been flagged in the government’s ongoing data verification exercise, raising concerns over massive ghost enrollments that could have siphoned billions of taxpayers’ money.
The disclosure, made by the Basic Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok, who appeared before the National Assembly’s Committee on Education, has sent shockwaves through classrooms and corridors of power alike. For years, whispers of “ghost learners” padding school registers have circulated, but this is the clearest proof yet that Kenya’s education budget may have been bleeding from within.
“This is unacceptable. We cannot allow fictitious names to rob real children of their future,” the PS declared, vowing tough action on schools and officials caught in the racket, Bitok told the Julius Melly-led Committee
The revelations come as the government rolls out fresh funding to 17,500 schools nationwide. According to ministry data, the distribution includes:
- 5,500 primary schools
- 5,700 secondary schools
- 5,400 junior schools
- 600 special institutions
Billions in capitation funds are already on the move, but with 50,000 ghost entries now under scrutiny, questions are swirling: How much money has been stolen? Who is pocketing it? And how deep does the rot go?
Education experts say the scam could be a carefully coordinated scheme where schools inflate enrolment figures to rake in higher allocations. Each “phantom child” on the roll translates to thousands of shillings in state funds money meant to buy books, desks, and meals for real pupils.
Parents and unions are demanding a crackdown. “This is theft in broad daylight. Every shilling stolen is a stolen future,” fumed one parents’ association leader. Teachers’ unions have also called for the prosecution of headteachers and ministry insiders found complicit.
The government insists the audit is only the beginning. Schools found guilty risk not only losing funds but also facing criminal investigations. The PS hinted at sweeping reforms to clean up data systems and seal the holes that have allowed ghost students to haunt Kenya’s classrooms for decades.
PS Bitok says the data verification exercise is at 60 per cent.
