MPs Uncover Massive Mismanagement in Kenyan Public Universities: Fake Payrolls, Tribal Hiring & Failed Tech
Public Universities in Kenya Under Fire as MPs Expose Financial Irregularities and Mismanagement
Kenya’s public universities are facing a storm of criticism following revelations of deep-rooted mismanagement and abuse of public funds. The National Assembly’s Committee on Public Investments on Governance and Education has brought to light a series of alarming failures in governance, ranging from ineffective tech investments to unethical hiring practices and ghost workers.
Chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, the committee revealed that hundreds of millions of shillings were squandered on ineffective Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems. These systems, designed to streamline university operations, failed due to poor planning and the selection of underperforming vendors.
At the Commission for University Education (CUE), lawmakers raised concerns over a Ksh45.7 million ERP system with no clear outcome despite Ksh30.5 million already disbursed. The absence of completion reports and violations of procurement laws further underscored the extent of mismanagement.
Adding to the financial discrepancies, a Ksh2.5 million gap in the car and mortgage loan fund lacked proper documentation. Shockingly, CUE retained 90% of its Ksh80 million surplus, a move that contravenes public finance regulations.
Tribalism and Payroll Scandals
Kibabii University came under sharp criticism for its ethnic bias in hiring practices, with 75% of its 430 staff members reportedly from a single ethnic group—an act MPs condemned as contrary to the Constitution and national cohesion goals. The university also spends 64% of its revenue on salaries, far above the acceptable limit.
Meanwhile, Meru National Polytechnic was implicated in maintaining fraudulent payrolls. Auditors discovered fake Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) PINs, dubious birth dates, and over 140 questionable employment contracts. The institution also ignored audit recommendations and installed an ERP system that failed to comply with salary deduction regulations.
Construction Fraud and Accountability Measures
MPs also flagged Meru Polytechnic’s construction projects, citing slow progress and unauthorized structural changes. The committee warned that continued violation of laws would result in penalties for the responsible parties.
In a related move, Kisii National Polytechnic, the Kenya School of Law, and the Council of Legal Education were ordered out of a parliamentary session for failing to appear with key officers. They were told to return with the appropriate representatives to clarify their financial records.
Despite these grim findings, the committee reaffirmed its commitment to pushing for transparency, enforcing accountability, and driving meaningful reforms across Kenya’s education sector.
