The Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance has launched a probe into the use of public funds by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), following concerns raised in a Special Audit Report.
During a session held at Bunge Towers and chaired by Hon. Thuddeus Nzambia (Kilome), Members of Parliament questioned the rationale behind sponsoring students in private universities despite public institutions reportedly having sufficient capacity to absorb all qualifying candidates.
“We must ask tough questions when taxpayers’ money is used to support private universities while public ones remain underutilized,” said Hon. Nzambia.
Lawmakers pressed KUCCPS CEO Mrs. Agnes Wahome to explain the criteria used in allocating public funds to private institutions, emphasizing the need for clear policies and transparency in the placement process. The committee requested a detailed breakdown of student placements, institutional capacity declarations, and the systems in place to track student enrollment post-placement.
Mrs. Wahome defended the agency’s decisions, noting that KUCCPS had developed a digital platform and established policy guidelines to monitor student placement. However, MPs insisted on documented proof of these measures before further discussions could proceed.
Meanwhile, KICD came under scrutiny for alleged financial mismanagement, including irregular procurement and questionable expenditure. A key concern raised by the committee was the printing of nearly one million French textbooks, despite the subject being taught in only a limited number of schools.
“How do you justify such a glaring mismatch between supply and actual student needs?” asked Hon. Mumina, pointing to widespread reports of surplus books in some institutions and severe shortages in others.
The committee emphasized the need for greater coordination between the State Department for Education and its affiliated agencies. A follow-up meeting with the Ministry of Education is scheduled to address these concerns and explore policy reforms.
Among the proposed changes is a review of the student placement process, with lawmakers advocating for a model that offers learners more freedom to choose their preferred courses instead of being automatically assigned.
The committee vowed to pursue the matter to its conclusion, stressing that accountability and efficient use of public resources in the education sector must remain a top priority.
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