Kitui Central Member of Parliament Hon. Dr. Makali Mulu has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of individuals implicated in the ghost students and ghost schools scandal that has reportedly cost taxpayers an estimated Ksh 1.1 billion annually in capitation funds.

The lawmaker expressed outrage over findings indicating that more than Ksh. 912 million was lost in the third term of 2025 alone due to inflated enrollment figures in schools across the country.

A nationwide verification exercise conducted by the Ministry of Education and confirmed by Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba during a session of the National Assembly plenary revealed the existence of over 885,000 ghost learners in primary schools and more than 85,000 in secondary schools.

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The audit further established that at least 27 primary schools were non-operational but continued to receive government capitation funds, while 10 secondary schools were found to be closed despite still benefiting from public allocations. Investigations point to manipulation of the National Education Management Information System (NEMIS), where fake student identities were allegedly created to siphon government funds.

Speaking during a Cultural Day event at Kitui Teachers Training College (TTC), Dr. Mulu strongly condemned the malpractice, saying it has led to massive loss of public funds meant to support learners across the country. “When we hear about such things and we continue to stay as if it’s normal, I don’t think we are heading in the right direction towards ‘Singapore’. If we continue this way, we will be going in the opposite direction,” he said.

The third-term MP criticized investigative agencies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), urging them to expedite investigations and ensure those responsible face the full force of the law.

“Those involved in that scandal should already be in jail. If they are not, then somebody is not doing his work. Either EACC or DCI should do their work so that such people are locked in and locked in forever,” Makali stated.

The Ministry of Education has since forwarded the audit findings to the DCI for action against at least 34 school heads and 28 sub-county education directors suspected to have played a role in the scheme.

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In response to the scandal, the government is planning to roll out the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) to replace NEMIS and seal loopholes that allowed data manipulation. The Ministry has also maintained that capitation funds will not be released to any school that has not undergone verification, with reports indicating that nearly 1,000 schools had fewer than 10 learners.

During the event, Dr. Makali Mulu also commissioned four newly constructed classrooms at the college funded through the Kitui Central NG-CDF, fulfilling a pledge he made during last year’s graduation ceremony.

As investigations continue, the MP maintained that accountability in the education sector is critical to safeguarding public resources and restoring confidence in the management of Kenya’s schools.

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