Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Kenyans.co.ke
Published on 2024-04-12 08:10:23
On Thursday, April 11, the National Assembly Public Investments Committee issued a directive to Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, giving him a two-week ultimatum to address the issues surrounding the Edu Afya program. Reports had surfaced suggesting that certain learning institutions had received double funding, a situation attributed to the actions of corrupt officials within these institutions.
The committee instructed CS Machogu to synchronize his report with that of the Auditor General within the stipulated two-week period and to hold accountable any individual found to be involved in the malpractice. The committee members expressed their concern over the lack of clarity regarding the future of the Edu Afya program, which had concluded on December 31, 2022, leaving students in a state of uncertainty.
CS Machogu defended the ministry’s actions by highlighting a refund program that had been initiated with universities that had received excess funding. He mentioned that an amount of Ksh 4.4 million had been recovered out of the total Ksh 19 million that was overpaid. Additionally, he assured the committee that the officers responsible for the mismanagement were under investigation and had been instructed to provide the necessary documentation.
The lawmakers urged CS Machogu to establish a transitional program to replace the discontinued Edu Afya initiative. They also raised concerns about certain institutions admitting more students than their declared capacities allowed, hinting at a possible collusion between corrupt ministry officials and university accounting officers to siphon government funds.
Member of Parliament Jack Wamboka emphasized the need for accountability, stating that those found guilty of misappropriating public funds would face consequences. During the parliamentary session, CS Machogu was pressed to explain the underlying issues causing dysfunction in public educational institutions and to outline the ministry’s strategies for enhancing the management of these institutions to ensure they fulfill their mandates effectively.
CS Machogu was also grilled on the ministry’s efforts to improve educational outcomes and was tasked with shedding light on the proposed solutions for addressing the challenges within the education sector. In a separate event, he engaged stakeholders in a public participation forum to gather input on proposed policy changes and legislation in the education sector.
In conclusion, the Education Cabinet Secretary was under intense scrutiny from the National Assembly Public Investments Committee, and he was expected to take prompt action to rectify the mismanagement of funds within the Edu Afya program and to implement measures to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of educational institutions under his purview.
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