By Reporter
A storm has erupted at Ambira High School over how the recently retired Chief Principal, Joseph Kauko, left the institution with a debt of Sh 107M during his four years at the helm, according to a new audit report.
In one of the shocking revelations, concerns were raised over how the principal incurred and left a huge debt of Sh 107M, which was declared at the handing-over ceremony, but a close analysis of the books puts the figure at Sh 140M.
According to the handing-over report, school fees arrears were listed at Sh 25M only, while the total debt stood at Sh 107M.
Questions have emerged as to whether Kauko and the Board followed the Ministry of Education guidelines to have the multi-million infrastructural projects approved.
Siaya County Director of Education, Rev. Dr Francis Shikanda, said he was newly posted to the station and will investigate the matter.
“It is true Kauko retired and we have a new principal. But I will send my team to investigate and verify the concerns raised by the stakeholders,” he said.
Shikanda said the ministry auditors and quality assurance officers from his office will soon visit the school to come up with a report to enable the government to act.
The Board Chairman, Eliud Owino, did not confirm or deny whether the projects were approved by the school.
“You come to school and you will get the full information. Now I am at the bus stop, I can confirm or deny anything,” he said.
Fears and concerns over the huge debts left by the immediate former chief principal have now gripped the institution, and the debt burden could cripple the operations of the school.
Stakeholders have taken issue with the school board, the Ministry of Education and auditors for failing to flag the unhealthy expenditure that has left the school in huge debt.
They have expressed concern and want the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to investigate and audit the school’s books of accounts.
“How can a manager leave a debt of Sh 140M in a span of four years and what did he use the funds for? We see red flags in these expenditures and demand thorough investigations and recovery of the funds,” they asked.
Ambira High School, situated in Ugunja Constituency of Siaya County, has a student population of 1,780, with each paying school fees of Sh 55,000 annually.
However, Kauko, when contacted, said he left a debt of Sh 107M but undertook massive infrastructural development at the school.
“When I was posted to the institution, I found a debt of Sh 39M. Time was short and I was able to construct multi-million infrastructural projects at the institution,” he said.
Kauko said some of the projects, such as a laboratory constructed at a cost of Sh 45M, a tuition block at a cost of Sh 50M, and dormitories at a cost of Sh 50M, were approved by the ministry.
“We followed due process and had the ministry approve the three main projects, while the other ones were approved by the board,” he said.
Kauko said that during his tenure, the school purchased a van at Sh 5M, rehabilitated and furnished a science laboratory at a cost of Sh 6M, and constructed a gate and wall at Sh 3.5M.
“I did not know if these projects were supposed to be approved. These are some of the questions I was asked by the auditors, but these are new rules,” he said.
Kauko also constructed a gas cooking system at a cost of Sh 3M, purchased 50 computers at a cost of Sh 2.5M, initiated the construction of another dormitory where Sh 6M had been spent, and paid a Sh 2.5M debt for the school bus.
“If you want to seek approvals, will you do any development project for the schools? You can go to the school and witness for yourself the infrastructural development. I have not squandered any funds,” he said.
Kauko said that in 2025, the school fees arrears for the year stood at Sh 25M, while the previous arrears stood at Sh 140M, making the cumulative arrears remain high.
Kauko claimed that some of his enemies had engineered a plot to tarnish his name after he turned around the school in terms of infrastructure and academic performance.
