The Ministry of Education has uncovered a shocking scandal involving over 50,000 ghost students in secondary schools. This revelation followed an ongoing school data verification exercise.
The findings expose how taxpayers have lost billions of shillings meant to support non-existent learners. The fraud has cost the government at least Ksh1.1 billion every year, amounting to Ksh4.4 billion during the four years of secondary school. The Ministry now faces pressure to fix loopholes and protect resources meant for genuine students.
Data Verification Exposes 50,000 Ghost Students in Secondary Schools
The verification process, which is still underway, has revealed glaring irregularities in the country’s education system. Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok disclosed that only 17,400 of the 32,000 schools have so far been cleared to receive government funds. This means thousands of schools remain under scrutiny for possibly inflating student numbers.
The government had set aside Ksh23 billion for school capitation. Out of this, Ksh13 billion has already been disbursed. However, with ghost students now exposed, the total number of learners may reduce by 10 per cent once the exercise is complete. Bitok said the number of schools might also drop significantly after fraudulent institutions are weeded out.
“We expect a huge reduction in the number of students by between five and ten per cent. We are also expecting a big reduction in the number of schools. This will affect results and the resources we send to schools,” he told lawmakers.
This massive fraud means that billions that should have improved classrooms, bought books, and paid teachers ended up funding non-existent students. The exposure now raises questions about accountability within the education sector and the role of school administrators in the scam.
Government Moves to End Ghost Students
To curb the crisis, the Ministry of Education will launch the Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) in January 2026. The digital platform will manage and track data on schools and learners across the country. Officials believe the system will end manipulation of records and ensure funds only go to legitimate learners.
Bitok confirmed that verification teams are on the ground checking school records before releasing the remaining capitation funds. “Out of the Ksh23 billion, we have disbursed 60 per cent, about Ksh13 billion, and the process is ongoing,” he stated.
The ministry’s efforts, however, face strong criticism from education stakeholders. Many argue that the slow release of funds has left schools unable to run smoothly. Teachers’ unions have demanded faster action, insisting that genuine students should not suffer because of administrative failures.
Schools and Teachers Bear the Burden
The Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) recently warned that schools risk closure if the government delays releasing funds. Chairperson Milemba said that in the first term, some schools shut down early because they had no money. He urged the government to release capitation promptly to protect quality education.
“The government has a responsibility to release money to schools so learners can get quality education,” Milemba said.
Teachers argue that while verification is necessary, the process must not paralyze learning. They want the ministry to find a balance between exposing ghost students and ensuring real students are not left stranded in underfunded schools.
The scandal has not only revealed theft but also highlighted how weak systems have enabled corruption to thrive. Parents, teachers, and students now demand stronger safeguards to protect education funding.
