Audit uncovers 87,000 ghost learners siphoning Ksh 1.1B annually
Audit uncovers 87,000 ghost learners siphoning Ksh 1.1B annually
Concerns are emerging over the integrity of Kenya’s basic education data following a national verification exercise that revealed 87,000 “ghost” learners captured in government systems despite having no traceable presence in any learning institution.
The nationwide audit, conducted between September and October 2025, also identified at least 26 public schools, 16 primary and 10 secondary, that were non-operational but remained listed in government records for years.
The affected primary schools include Bisanavi and Eldara in Isiolo County, Ngechu in Murang’a, and Kisauni Baptist in Mombasa.
Also on the list are Acheimen and Musebet in Kericho County, Masalale North in Wajir, Kambi Otha in Isiolo, Manooni and Soma in Kitui, and Kambi Samaki in Garissa, Toboiyat in Nandi,Mbaru Primary in West Pokot Unyeeo Primary in Makueni County, and Nyagakiru primary in Chuka.
Secondary schools flagged include Ngamba Secondary in Murang’a, Kira Secondary in Nyandarua, Ragia Forest Secondary in Kiambu, Dr Mashenge Moheto in Migori, Maji Mazuri Mixed Secondary in Baringo, Mugwandi Secondary in Kirinyaga, France Bulovi Secondary in Kakamega, Kara Secondary, Father lia’s Temple Secondary, and Loita Secondary.
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The audit report attributes the closures to factors such as persistent insecurity, prolonged learner shortages, and unresolved community conflicts. Officials from the Ministry of Education have indicated that these schools may face permanent closure if deemed unviable.
The audit also uncovered that schools with fewer than 10 learners were previously receiving funds in violation of minimum enrollment requirements.
The verification exercise revealed that declared enrollment across public schools dropped from 11.6 million to just over 11 million learners, leaving more than half a million learners unaccounted for.
The Ksh 1.1 billion lost annually is believed to have been siphoned through government capitation funds to schools that either did not exist or had negligible enrollment.
Earlier, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba addressed the issue of the so-called “ghost schools,” drawing a clear distinction between schools that do not exist and cases arising from administrative data inconsistencies.
CS Ogamba had refuted claims that the government had disbursed Ksh 1.1 billion to ghost schools, explaining that these funds were actually withheld from approximately 990 schools that failed to submit the required data during a nationwide verification exercise.
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