A new amendment to the basic education law may soon require school bursars and accountants to openly declare their wealth and that of their families. The change comes as MPs push for tighter checks on public school finances.
Sirisia MP John Waluke, who sponsors the Basic Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025, urged the Education Committee to back the proposal. He told the panel that bursars and accountants “have been manipulating the funds to their advantage, which results in self-enrichment.” He added that this behavior goes against the Public Officers Ethics Act.
According to Mr Waluke, the inclusion of spouses and dependent children in the audits would help prevent attempts to hide wealth. “These people … have acquired properties all over that you cannot even explain,” he said.
He also insisted that bursars and accountants be treated like public officers. After all, salaries for these roles are set by Parliament. He cited Section 46 of the Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Act, under which anyone abusing office for personal gain commits an offence.
Another key provision in the bill seeks to rotate bursars and accountants every three years. “The bursars are like civil servants; why should they serve in one school forever? That is what breeds corruption,” Mr Waluke argued.
Aiming for Transparency and Accountability
The purpose of the lifestyle audits, he said, is to make sure public funds are used as intended, supporting the constitutional right to education. “This will cause public funds to be used prudently,” he told MPs, “and enhance the proper implementation of the right to education as envisaged under the Constitution.”
The Education Committee will now review the bill to decide whether it should go forward to the First Reading in the National Assembly.
Context
While the proposed law aims at transparency, critics may argue it risks over-policing education staff. Bursars and accountants handle finances under tight oversight, often with limited support or resources.
Some may see the transfer requirement as disruptive. Frequent transfers could unsettle financial operations at schools or burden administrators unprepared for change.
That said, the proposal aligns with broader concerns about ghost schools and misused funds. Earlier audits showed vast sums redirected to non-existent or defunct institutions, raising serious governance questions.
Looking Ahead
If passed, the bill would subject bursars and their families to lifestyle audits. It would treat them as public officers, require regular transfers and aim to seal off routes for hiding illicit gains.
Lawmakers must now weigh the benefits of accountability against the need for operational stability in schools. Whether the proposal wins approval, it underscores renewed attention on how education funds are managed in Kenya.
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