Fresh grievances have once again cast the Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF) into controversy, placing renewed focus on a state corporation established in 1966 to publish educational materials and administer scholarships, but which in recent years has undergone a mandate transition that expanded its role into managing the World Bank–supported Elimu Scholarship Programme for vulnerable learners across Kenya.
The latest information received points to disputed procurement procedures surrounding the sourcing and distribution of shopping kits and essential supplies for thousands of Form One and Form Two beneficiaries, with sources describing irregular alterations to tender evaluation outcomes, concentration of supply contracts among select vendors, and internal dissatisfaction over what is portrayed as interference with established procurement frameworks.
These developments do not arise in isolation but rather echo earlier public claims that depicted the Foundation as grappling with leadership instability, costly policy shifts, and mounting operational strain during its transition from a publishing-focused entity to a central administrator of government-backed scholarship funds.
At the centre of the current complaints are reports that centralized procurement decisions may have overridden committee recommendations, thereby raising questions about adherence to competitive bidding principles and internal checks designed to safeguard public and donor-funded resources.
Beyond procurement, staff narratives describe prolonged salary delays extending over several months, staggered or partial disbursements of net pay, and uncertainty over the remittance of statutory deductions, circumstances said to have imposed acute financial hardship on employees tasked with implementing scholarship programmes on behalf of disadvantaged learners.
Employees further describe stagnation in career progression, absence of a comprehensive scheme of service, and limited morale-support structures within the institution, conditions that they argue weaken organisational cohesion at a time when JKF is entrusted with managing high-stakes national education interventions.
Compounding these grievances are longstanding allegations, previously aired in public commentary, that internal management dynamics have fostered divisions within the workforce and strained relationships between senior leadership and departmental heads, thereby affecting decision-making efficiency and institutional credibility.
Taken cumulatively, the renewed complaints and historical accusations sketch a portrait of a parastatal navigating reputational and operational turbulence at a critical juncture in its strategic plan, with observers now calling for rigorous, independent examination of procurement integrity, financial stewardship, and governance architecture to determine whether corrective action is required to restore confidence in the Foundation’s stewardship of scholarship resources.
Below is a detailed outline of the latest claims submitted to this publication, in which a source calls for the intervention of the Cabinet Secretary (CS) and Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), and the World Bank over what is described as procurement malpractice, abuse of office, and conflict of interest linked to the management of the Elimu Scholarship Programme at JKF.
“Dear Nyakundi, There have been serious exposes you have done concerning the management of this organisation, but no action has ever been taken against them. It is high time this one reaches the desk of the CS and PS, Ministry of Education, the anti-corruption body EACC, the World Bank, and the DCI. This expose seeks to bring to the attention of relevant oversight and investigative authorities serious allegations of procurement malpractice, abuse of office, and conflict of interest involving the Managing Director (MD) of Jomo Kenyatta Foundation (JKF), Mr David Mwaniki, who continues to sit in that office for nothing but his gain. The allegations relate to the management of funds and supplies under the Elimu Scholarship Programme, which is intended to support needy learners across the country through provision of tuition fees, uniforms, shopping, transport, and pocket money. The purpose of this report is to request an urgent, independent investigation into these claims in order to safeguard public resources and protect vulnerable learners. The Elimu Scholarship Programme is funded by the World Bank and entrusted to Jomo Kenyatta Foundation for implementation. A key component of the programme is procurement of uniforms and other essential items for beneficiaries. Established public procurement principles require transparency, competitiveness, and, where appropriate, sourcing at county or local level to ensure efficiency and timely delivery.
It is alleged that:
(1) The MD of JKF has irregularly influenced procurement processes by directing contracts to a small group of preferred suppliers.
(2) These suppliers are allegedly linked to or controlled by the MD, creating a conflict of interest.
(3) Instead of sourcing uniforms and related items at county level, as would be efficient and responsive, all procurement is allegedly centralised and awarded to these preferred suppliers.
(4) Payments are made to these suppliers, yet delivery is delayed even for more than a year, incomplete, or of poor quality. Schools are headed for the mid-term break with most students without uniforms, shoes, pocket money, and transport to go home, considering that these are poor and vulnerable children.
(5) There are claims that the MD receives personal financial benefits (“cuts”) from these arrangements.Attached below are some of the shoes that have been given to the children. As you can see, quality has been compromised. This is lack of integrity and morals for one to supply such poor quality shoes.
The alleged practices have had severe consequences, including:
(1) Grade 10 Elimu Scholarship beneficiaries reporting to school without uniforms.
(2) Needy and vulnerable learners remaining without uniforms long after funds have been disbursed.
(3) School principals across various counties raising complaints about students’ suffering and humiliation.
(4) Learners experiencing low self-esteem, stigma, and psychological distress.
(5) Disruption of learning and risk of increased absenteeism and dropouts.These outcomes directly contradict the objectives of the Elimu Scholarship Programme.
If these allegations are confirmed, they represent:
(1) Misuse of public funds.
(2) Violation of public procurement laws and ethics.
(3) Erosion of trust in JKF and in government-supported scholarship programmes.
(4) Undermining national efforts to promote equity in education.It is respectfully recommended that:
(1) An independent forensic audit of Elimu Scholarship procurement processes be conducted.
(2) All supplier contracts related to uniforms and shopping be reviewed.
(3) The MD be required to step aside temporarily to allow impartial investigations.
(4) Immediate emergency procurement be authorised at county level to supply uniforms to affected learners.
(5) Strong accountability measures be taken against any individuals found culpable.The allegations outlined in this report point to a serious breakdown in governance and ethical leadership within JKF. Swift action is necessary to protect vulnerable learners, recover public trust, and ensure that the Elimu Scholarship Programme fulfils its mandate of supporting needy children.
Concerned citizen.”
