Eldoret Human Rights Activist Calls for Audit of Kiharu MP’s School Fees Charity

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy has called upon the Government to urgently investigate and audit the education charity initiative spearheaded by Kiharu Member of Parliament Ndindi Nyoro, citing the need for transparency and public accountability in line with the Constitution of Kenya.

In a statement issued on Thursday, Kipkorir Ngetich the Eldoret based Human Rights Activist  from Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said that while it strongly supports initiatives aimed at assisting vulnerable children to access education, the scale and financial implications of the Kiharu charity project raise serious public interest questions that must be addressed openly.

The project, which reportedly enables thousands of students in Kiharu Constituency to pay as little as KSh 500 in school fees per term, has drawn widespread praise. However, Ngetich  argues that the magnitude of the subsidy calls for a clear and public declaration of the source of funds.

“As much as we applaud any effort that supports vulnerable members of society, it is equally important that such projects are transparent and accountable,” Ngetich said. “The MP’s personal salary, even when combined with Constituency Development Fund allocations, cannot reasonably account for such a massive reduction in school fees. This reality demands a proper explanation.”

Ngetich  emphasized that it is not accusing the legislator of any wrongdoing, but insisted that public trust requires openness, especially where public officials are involved in large-scale financial undertakings that affect thousands of citizens.

“It has never happened anywhere in the world that a single individual can sustainably finance a project of this magnitude unless they are a long-established multimillion or multibillion-dollar entrepreneur,” the statement read. “Kenyans deserve to know the model being used and the exact source of funds supporting this initiative.” he noted.

The organization is now demanding that the National Assembly debates and audits the Kiharu MP’s education project on the floor of the House, with full disclosure of all funding sources. It further wants the same information shared with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to eliminate any suspicion of financial impropriety.

“We are living in an era where financial crimes and illicit money flows are highly sophisticated,” the centre noted, pointing to global cases of complex illegal financial operations. “This makes accountability and due diligence more critical than ever.” Ngetich said.

Citing Article 35 of the Constitution, which guarantees the public’s right to access information, the centre argued that the MP, as a state officer and member of Parliament, has a constitutional obligation to disclose information of significant public interest. It also referenced Article 10 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which lists good governance, integrity, transparency, and accountability as binding national values and principles for all state organs and public officers.

“Public office is a public trust,” the statement added. “Leaders must serve the people with integrity and be accountable for their decisions and actions, especially where public funds or large-scale social interventions are concerned.” He said.

The centre said it fully supports the continuation, expansion, and sustainability of the education project, noting that any initiative that improves access to education, food, and healthcare for Kenyan children should be encouraged. However, it maintained that such support must never come at the expense of constitutional principles.

“If the Kiharu MP is doing the right thing, then he has nothing to fear,” the statement concluded. “We call upon him, as one of Kenya’s brightest political minds, to be on the right side of history by openly explaining the source of funds and the model behind this milestone project. Accountability and transparency must be practiced consistently across the country if Kenya is to uphold the rule of law and public trust.” He said.

The Centre for Human Rights and Democracy urged Kenyans to support transformative development initiatives by individuals, leaders, and government alike, while remaining firm that no project—however commendable—should be exempt from scrutiny under the Constitution.