MPs demand answers over millions paid by public schools to KSSHA

Members of Parliament (MPs) have called for clarification regarding millions of shillings transferred by public secondary schools to the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KSSHA). The National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education aims to question the legal grounds and accountability of these transfers. Chairing the committee, Luanda MP Dick Maungu expressed concerns after auditors raised alarms over direct payments by public schools to KSSHA, questioning their legitimacy.

During a retreat at the Royal Swiss Hotel in Kisumu, MPs reviewed Auditor-General reports from 2020/21 to 2024/25, focusing on high schools such as Asumbi Girls High School, where Ksh1.247 million was transferred to KSSHA in the financial year ending June 2024. The audit revealed that KSSHA, a welfare organization comprising school principals, lacked effective financial management and control systems.

Furthermore, KSSHA's payments breached Regulation 23(2)(c) of the Public Finance Management (National Government) Regulations, 2015, which mandates obtaining written assurance from an entity before transferring funds.

School principals defended the payments, citing their use for students' co-curricular activities and welfare. However, the committee remains unconvinced, wondering if KSSHA should be acknowledged as a recipient of public funds and if its activities are under proper audit. One school examined by the committee paid around Ksh6 million to KSSHA over five years, while another contributed approximately Ksh5 million during the same period, highlighting the potential scale of these payments nationwide.

MPs emphasized that while funding for sports, drama, music, and other educational activities is commendable, the concern lies in the legality of public funds flowing through an entity not under the Government's formal financial management framework. The committee plans to summon KSSHA officials to provide answers about the association’s legal standing, its connection with the Ministry of Education, the amount of money received from public schools, and the management of such funds.

This investigation may extend beyond the already examined schools if MPs find similar practices prevalent across the country, especially as Parliament intensifies its scrutiny on the lawful and transparent utilization of educational funds.