Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka Tuesday flagged former Kisii Polytechnic Tom Mulat for a probe on financial dealings at the insititution during his tenure.
Mulat was hastily transfered from the insititution a fortnight ago following an outcry from the students and a section of the local political class.
At the Senate Tuesday, Onyonka asked for enhanced accountability of the Polytechnic’s funds in the face of Mulat’s disgraceful departure.
He especially queried the litany of discrepancies in the revenue collection by the Polytechnic in the short span Mulat was in charge.
“Despite the increase in student enrollment from 11,517 to 13,017 in the last financial year, the institution recorded a revenue shortfall of Sh119.7 million,” stated Onyonka.
Other addition concerns constitute unauthorized expenditures and procurement irregularities.
He also spoke of key critical infrastructure projects stalling despite the allocation of funds during the tenure of the disgraced principal.
The findings have reportedly been flagged in Auditor-General reports and other investigative reviews.
Onyonka, in his statement to the Senate, questioned whether the transfer of the principal was an attempt to shield individuals from scrutiny rather than address the underlying financial concerns.
He called on the Senate Standing Committee on Education to investigate the matter, demanding a comprehensive report on the circumstances surrounding Dr. Mulati’s transfer and the overall financial operations of the institution over the past three years.
The senator further urged the Ministry of Education to take concrete steps to ensure transparency and accountability in the management of technical institutions.
“The mismanagement of funds, if confirmed, threatens the quality of education and the future of students enrolled in the institution,” he stated.
The call for an inquiry comes as the education sector continues to grapple with financial accountability challenges, with experts warning that unchecked mismanagement could derail Kenya’s efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education.
Stakeholders, including students and staff at the institution, now await the findings of the Senate investigation, which could determine whether officials, including the former principal, would be held accountable for any financial malpractice.
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