Members of Parliament are intensifying pressure on public universities and colleges to comply with financial reporting regulations and address persistent audit failures.
The Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance, chaired by Bumula MP Jack Wamboka, has taken a firm stance on the matter, declaring that institutions of higher learning must now adhere strictly to audit timelines and financial laws.
During a recent session with various university and college heads, the Committee raised alarm over the widespread failure by institutions to submit timely and accurate audit reports.
The Committee noted that these delays often result in recurring audit concerns being carried forward to subsequent years, further undermining transparency and accountability.
“This practice is not just unacceptable — it’s illegal,” said MP Wamboka. “We are determined to enforce compliance with financial procedures. Vice Chancellors and Principals will be held personally responsible for any breaches under their leadership.”
The Committee also warned institutions against launching new projects while existing ones remain incomplete.
This directive follows a series of stalled developments across campuses, many of which have consumed public resources without yielding any results.
At Chuka University, for example, the Auditor-General’s report flagged the institution for managing four different projects at the same time. The Committee questioned whether the university had the capacity to oversee such initiatives effectively.
Following the intervention, Chuka University later earned a clean audit report in the subsequent financial year, a turnaround that saw Vice Chancellor Prof. Henry Mutembei praised by the MPs for showing improved financial discipline.
Not all institutions were as lucky. At Kiirua Technical Training Institute in Meru County, the Committee flagged irregular board allowances totalling Sh1.7 million that were paid without the required approval from the Cabinet Secretary.
Principal Dr. Mbae Jackson was instructed to ensure that the funds are fully refunded by all those involved in authorizing and receiving the payments.
The same institution was also found to have violated the law on ethnic diversity in public employment, with 93 percent of its staff drawn from a single ethnic community. The Committee directed the institution to rectify the imbalance within two years to meet national inclusion standards.
Karatina University was another institution that came under scrutiny.
The Committee questioned questionable financial benefits received by a former Vice Chancellor, including transport allowances despite the availability of an official vehicle. The current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Linus Muthuri, was ordered to recover the payments within six months.
In a separate incident, the former Vice Chancellor at the same university was reported to have processed a Sh12.49 million gratuity payment just two days before the expiry of his term — without undergoing the mandatory clearance process.
MPs directed that the funds be recovered within one month and that gratuity payments should only be made after formal clearance, as per the law.
At Nachu Technical and Vocational College in Kiambu County, the Committee raised concerns about data protection compliance.
The institution, under Principal Magdalene Mwachofi, had failed to register with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner, despite handling sensitive student and staff information. The Committee described the failure as a serious breach of personal data privacy.
In addition to data violations, Nachu TVC was found to have 58 percent of its workforce drawn from a single ethnic group, breaching the 25 percent limit stipulated by law.
The Committee also noted that the college did not include land values in its asset register and lacked legal documents proving ownership of the land it occupies.
The Committee concluded the session by instructing all heads of institutions to resolve pending audit issues promptly. MPs warned that failure to comply would result in repeat summons and potential legal consequences.
Wamboka said the ultimate goal of the Committee is to uphold transparency, promote equity, and ensure taxpayers get value for money in the country’s higher education system.
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