Cherargei calls for audit of school funding amid concerns over student congestion
By Emmanuel Rono, June 4, 2026Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has faulted the Ministry of Education for failing to conduct regular inspections in schools and for failing to account for funds allocated to learning institutions, saying proactive oversight is necessary to prevent crises in the education sector.
Speaking during an interview with a local station on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Cherargei criticised what he described as a reactive approach by education authorities, in which action is taken only after problems emerge.
“Ni muhimu kwa Wizara ya Elimu kuhakikisha inafanya ukaguzi wa mara kwa mara shuleni, badala ya kusubiri hadi majanga yanapotokea ndipo ianze kutangaza hatua za kuchukua,” Cherargei said.
Loosely translate: “The Ministry of Education needs to ensure it carries out regular inspections in schools instead of waiting for disasters to occur before announcing measures to address them,” Cherargei said.
Funds utilisation
According to Senator Cherargei, the Senate and the national assembly should summon Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to explain how funds allocated to schools are being utilised.
He said a parliamentary inquiry into education financing could help establish the root causes of the persistent congestion witnessed in some schools across the country.
“Bunge la Seneti linapaswa kumwita Waziri wa Elimu ili awasilishe maelezo kuhusu matumizi ya fedha zinazotengwa kwa ajili ya shule, hivi tutaweza kubaini chanzo cha msongamano mkubwa wa wanafunzi shuleni, hata wakati huu ambapo uchunguzi wa utumishi unaendelea,” Cherargei said.
“The Senate should invite the Education Cabinet Secretary to provide details on the use of funds allocated to schools. This will enable us to identify the source of the severe overcrowding being experienced in schools, even as investigations by relevant authorities continue,” he said.
Utumishi investigations
This comes as the investigations into the Utumishi fire tragedy that claimed the lives of 16 girls continue.
A Naivasha Magistrates Court has detained nine Utumishi Girls’ Academy students for 21 days to allow the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to complete investigations into the fire that engulfed an upper floor of one of the dormitories.
In a ruling delivered by the Chief Magistrate Abdulqadir Lorot on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, the court has noted that it has been persuaded that the respondents (nine students) ought to be detained as prayed by the DCI.
“I now allow the application; the nine respondents’ suspects will be detained at Nakuru Children Remand Home for a period of 21 days from today,” Chief Magistrate Lorot ruled.