On Thursday, February 19, 2026, Luanda MP Dick Maungu Oyugi, chair of the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Education, announced that six national school heads will face the Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education to address audit findings from the Auditor-General. The principals and accounting officers of six institutions will be questioned over financial irregularities, including unapproved levies, school borrowing, discrepancies in student enrollment records, and deficiencies in financial oversight. The session is part of a broader parliamentary effort to hold educational institutions accountable for fiscal management practices.
The schools involved are Moi Forces Academy, Precious Blood Riruta, Nyeri High School, Thika High School, Our Lady of Mt Carmel Maryhill Girls, and Kahuhia Girls. The audit queries pertain to financial activities spanning four academic cycles, from 2021/2022 to 2024/2025. The National Assembly's Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education will oversee the proceedings, which are scheduled to begin next week. The committee's mandate includes scrutinizing public expenditures and ensuring compliance with financial regulations in state-funded institutions.
The scrutiny follows concerns about potential mismanagement, with school leaders facing allegations of charging unauthorized fees to parents and misallocating resources. The Auditor-General's report highlighted systemic weaknesses in financial controls, prompting the parliamentary inquiry. Meanwhile, the education sector faces additional challenges as the printing of Grade 11 textbooks has been delayed due to a Sh7bn debt, raising fears of renewed textbook shortages that disrupted the start of the 2026 academic year. This development has intensified pressure on school administrators to resolve financial and logistical issues before the next term.
The parliamentary hearings underscore the growing emphasis on transparency in public education funding. By confronting school heads with audit findings, lawmakers aim to reinforce accountability mechanisms and prevent recurring financial missteps. The outcome of the inquiry could set a precedent for future oversight of national schools, particularly as the government seeks to address long-standing concerns about fiscal discipline in the education sector. The Public Investments Committee's role in this process highlights its critical function in ensuring that public resources are managed responsibly.