The Ministry of Education has initiated an investigation into the erection of signboards, gates, and fences around non-existent schools in North Baringo County. Joseph Makilap, the area’s Member of Parliament, has now denied knowledge of the institutions.
The schools in question are Kaptiony Girls High School, Kampi ya Nyasi Secondary School, and Kasaka Mixed Day Secondary School.
Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, in a letter to Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu, requested a probe into the matter.
“In the past week, there have been reports of alleged fake schools in Baringo County. The reports include allegations that the fake schools are an avenue to siphon public funds, in the form of capitation to learners.
“Whereas our initial investigation has established that the said schools are not registered and have not received any capitation or other funding from the ministry, we request that, in the public interest and for purposes of accountability, you also undertake a special audit to comprehensively ascertain the veracity of these serious allegations,” reads the letter dated May 13, 2024.
CS Machogu further directed Basic Education Principal Secretary Belio Kipsang to investigate the persons responsible for erecting the non-existent schools’ gates, signage, and fences.
He also directed PS Kipsang to establish whether the schools have boards of management.
Baringo North Sub-County Education Director Kiprono Langat has denied involvement in the registration of any of the fake schools.
Makilap, the area MP, in defence, explained that residents donated the lands to build the schools. They then erected the structures to ward off land grabbers.
“It [the erection of the signboard and gate] was done even before I became an MR What’s the problem if parents and the community have put up the signage for the proposed schools? We can’t malign the Ministry of Education through propaganda. There’s no money either from CDF [National Government Constituency Development Fund] or the [Education ministry] that has been allocated to those proposed secondary schools,” he said.
