NPA DEMANDS ANSWERS OVER KESSHA SCHOOL-FUNDS ALLEGATIONS
“Protect Learners’ Money, Establish the Truth, Hold the Guilty Accountable, Protect the Innocent” — NPA
By Jeff Kizzilah Digital Editor
NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Parents Association (NPA) has called for comprehensive investigations into allegations raised by the Auditor-General regarding the alleged use of funds collected from students in some public schools to support activities associated with the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA).
The NPA says the allegations are serious and must be properly investigated, stressing that money paid by parents and students is a public resource intended for the welfare and education of learners.
However, the association has cautioned against collectively branding school principals as thieves or corrupt individuals based solely on audit findings.
“An audit finding is not, by itself, proof that a particular principal stole public money.
The NPA argues that individual responsibility must be established through evidence, including determining when the alleged financial practices began, who authorised them, who controlled the funds, who benefited and which officials approved the transactions.
NPA QUESTIONS OVERSIGHT AGENCIES
The association has also questioned why alleged financial irregularities involving substantial amounts were not detected or stopped earlier if the practices had reportedly existed for several years.
The NPA says this raises broader questions about the effectiveness of financial oversight within public schools and the roles played by the Ministry of Education, school boards and other government oversight institutions.
DON’T BLAME CURRENT PRINCIPALS FOR HISTORICAL TRANSACTIONS
The NPA says principals who recently assumed leadership of schools should not automatically be held responsible for financial decisions made before their appointment.
It wants investigations to establish which principals were actually in office during the period under review and whether current school managers had any knowledge, authority or involvement in the transactions.
PARENTS URGED TO SEEK ANSWERS THROUGH PROPER CHANNELS
While affirming parents’ right to demand accountability for every shilling paid toward their children’s education, the NPA has urged parents not to confront or condemn school managers based solely on media reports or unproven allegations.
The association maintains that it will not defend corruption or misuse of learners’ money, but neither will it allow innocent education professionals to be unfairly branded as thieves.
NPA’S POSITION
The National Parents Association is calling on the Ministry of Education, the Auditor-General and relevant oversight agencies to conduct comprehensive investigations covering the entire period in question.
The association says the country deserves answers on who authorised the alleged practices, who benefited, why they persisted and why they were not detected earlier.
