The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has dismissed claims of financial mismanagement following a damning report by the Auditor General that flagged textbook distribution irregularities amounting to Sh540 million.
The report, covering the financial years 2020–21 to 2023–24, raised concerns about excess deliveries, shortages, misallocated materials, and unaccounted funds within the Ministry of Education’s textbook distribution programme. It revealed that while the Ministry disbursed Sh27.8 billion to KICD, the institute reported receiving Sh28.2 billion, resulting in an unexplained variance of Sh378 million.
KICD CEO Charles Ong’ondo, however, has strongly refuted allegations of any financial loss. “There is no single cent lost. The concerns stem from inaccurate learner and school numbers on NEMIS,” Ong’ondo told The Star, attributing the discrepancies to flawed data within the National Education Management Information System.
According to Ong’ondo, inaccurate enrolment data led to some schools receiving more books than needed, while others experienced shortages. The audit found excess deliveries valued at Sh90.8 million, shortfalls estimated at Sh295 million, and misallocated subject textbooks worth Sh30.3 million. Losses from schools that did not receive or received fewer books than expected stood at Sh41.4 million.
Despite the report’s findings, Ong’ondo maintained that all books supplied were aligned with the approved curriculum. He rejected claims of “irrelevant” textbooks, emphasizing that the distribution lists used were supplied by the Ministry of Education. “There can be no ghost schools unless the Ministry registers them,” he stated.
He also clarified that book deliveries are only paid for upon verification and signing of delivery notes by headteachers. Delays in delivery, recorded in some cases between three to 37 months, were acknowledged but not linked to fund misuse.
KICD is preparing a comprehensive response to Parliament and has urged stakeholders to focus on improving data integrity in the education system to prevent such discrepancies in the future.
