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The Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance of the National Assembly, has questioned the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) over issues raised in a Special Audit Report.
The committee in a session chaired by Hon. Thuddeus Nzambia (Kilome), today expressed concern about the decision to sponsor students in private universities, even though public universities reportedly have enough capacity to admit all qualifying candidates.
Members of Parliament asked KUCCPS, led by CEO Mrs. Agnes Wahome, to explain why public funds were directed to private institutions without a clear policy.
βWe must ask tough questions when taxpayers’ money is used to support private universities while public ones remain underutilized,β said Hon. Nzambia during the session.
Lawmakers also questioned the transparency and accountability of the placement process. They requested a breakdown of student placements by institution, capacity declarations from private universities, and systems for monitoring students after placement.
In response, Mrs. Wahome said KUCCPS had developed a digital platform and policy guidelines to help track student enrollment and placement. However, the committee insisted on receiving documented evidence.
The KICD was also questioned regarding financial mismanagement, including irregular procurement processes and unverified expenses. One notable concern was the printing of nearly one million French textbooks, despite the subject being taught in only a few schools.
βHow do you justify such a glaring mismatch between supply and actual student needs?β asked Hon. Mumina, highlighting reports of book surpluses in some schools and shortages in others.
The committee called for better coordination between the State Department for Education and its agencies. A follow-up meeting with the Ministry of Education has been planned to address outstanding issues and discuss the way forward.
Additionally, MPs proposed reforms to give students more freedom to choose their preferred courses, rather than having them assigned by placement authorities.
