KUCCPS, KICD on the spot as MPs probe financial management, student placement in education sector

Members of Parliament of the National Assembly’s Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance have raised serious concerns over the use of public funds to sponsor students in private universities, despite public universities reportedly having enough capacity to admit all qualified applicants.

The committee on Wednesday grilled the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) over issues uncovered in a Special Audit Report.

During the session chaired by Thuddeus Nzambia (Kilome), MPs questioned KUCCPS, headed by CEO Agnes Wahome, about the rationale for allocating taxpayer money to private universities without a clear policy framework.

“We must ask tough questions when taxpayers' money is used to support private universities while public ones remain underutilised,” Nzambia stated.

The legislators also challenged the transparency of the student placement process.

They demanded a detailed report showing how many students were placed in each institution, the capacity declarations from private universities, and the mechanisms in place to monitor students after placement.

Wahome explained that KUCCPS had introduced a digital platform and policy guidelines to track student enrollment and placement, but the committee requested documented proof of these measures.

The KICD faced scrutiny over financial mismanagement, particularly irregular procurement and unverified expenses.

A major concern was the printing of nearly one million French textbooks despite the subject being taught in only a few schools.

Isiolo Woman Representative Bonaya Mumina questioned this, saying, “How do you justify such a glaring mismatch between supply and actual student needs?” She pointed out reports of book surpluses in some schools while others face shortages.

The committee called for improved coordination between the State Department for Education and its agencies.

A follow-up meeting with the Ministry of Education is planned to resolve outstanding issues.

Additionally, MPs proposed reforms to allow students more freedom in choosing courses rather than being assigned by placement authorities.