The Public Investment Committee on Governance and Education has questioned Vice-Chancellors of private universities over misuse of public funds meant for Government -Sponsored Students (GSS) placed in private universities.

In a meeting with heads of various universities, Chairperson, Hon. Jack Wamboka (Bumula), cited variance in students’ enrolment, discrepancy in received funds from universities for students not enrolled, duplication in capitation disbursements, students not placed by KUCCPS and payment for students who have been with the university for periods longer than their expected durations of the programs undertaken as some of the ways the monies had been lost.

Mount Kenya University (MKU), Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi was asked to explain the placement of 27,164 students by KUCCPS over the seven-year period out of which, 24,075 students enrolled, resulting in a variance of 3,089 students.

Further, the university did not provide evidence of the capacity declarations made to KUCCPS for the years the students were placed in these universities.

According to the disbursement records, 41 students had not been placed by KUCCPS but had been declared as GSSs. Further, an amount of Kshs.1, 675,263 was disbursed to the university for the students who are not under the GSS program.

The Special Audit also established that a total of Kshs.12,080,950 had been disbursed on account of 291 students who had graduated from the university for the period under review. A further Kshs.7, 810,917 had been granted to 200 students in the university who had either deferred or had been on long academic leave.

Prof. Jaganyi in his response stated that most universities run on a two-term semester but MKU runs on trimesters, hence the continuation of payment after graduation.

Hon. Wamboka cautioned the Vice Chancellor that if the reports showed a contrary position to the evidence provided before his Committee, they would be held liable.

ZETECH University led by VC, Prof. Njenga Munene appeared before the Committee over the placement of 9,621 students by KUCCPS out of which 7,372 students enrolled, resulting in a variance of 2,249 students.

The lawmaker inquired from the VC if the university had declared its capacity before receiving a placement from KUCCPS. They also sought to know how the declared capacity aligned with the actual placement and the basis used to make the placement if no capacity was declared by the university.

Members also inquired if the university had received funds for the students who were not enrolled. It was established that a sum of Kshs.967, 532 had been granted to 19 students who had been with the university for periods longer than their expected durations of the programs undertaken. They pointed out that this could be an indication of lack of control measures to track the students’ progress.

Prof. Munene noted the concerns of the Members and requested for more time to reconcile his figures and deposit proper documentation with the Office of the Auditor general.

Additionally, the Committee learnt that duplication of registration of 34 students had led to an overpayment of Kshs.1, 996,666 in capitation to Uzima University.

The institution’s VC, Rev. (Dr.) Cosmas Rhagot failed to explain how the duplication had occurred since each student has a unique registration number. Members sought to know if the university made a refund for the overpayment.

Rev. Rhagot assured the Committee control measures had been put in place and the same would not occur in the future. He also pleaded for more time to reconcile the university’s data with the Office of the Auditor General and KUCCPS.

The request was granted by Hon. Wamboka, who directed that they appear again before the Committee at a date to be determined.