EXPOSED! Auditor General Reveals 87,000 ‘Ghost’ Learners Siphoning Ksh1.1 billion Annually
Concerns are being raised about the quality of Kenya’s basic education data following a national verification operation that discovered 87,000 “ghost” learners captured in government systems despite having no traceable presence in any learning institution.
The comprehensive audit, which took place between September and October 2025, also revealed at least 26 public schools, 16 elementary and 10 secondary, that were no longer in existence but had been recorded in government records for years.
Primary schools impacted include Bisanavi and Eldara in Isiolo County, Ngechu in Murang’a, and Kisauni Baptist in Mombasa.
A national education data verification exercise has raised concerns over the integrity of Kenya’s basic education records after uncovering 87,000 “ghost” learners listed in government systems despite having no traceable presence in any school. The audit, conducted between… pic.twitter.com/BRL8P5mcrX
— Bizna Kenya (@biznakenya) February 7, 2026
Acheimen and Musebet in Kericho County are also on the list, as are Masalale North in Wajir, Kambi Otha in Isiolo, Manooni and Soma in Kitui, Kambi Samaki in Garissa, Toboiyat in Nandi, Mbaru Primary in West Pokot, Unyeeo Primary in Makueni County, and Nyagakiru Primary in Chuka.
Secondary schools identified include Ngamba Secondary in Murang’a, Kira Secondary in Nyandarua, Ragia Forest Secondary in Kiambu, Dr Mashenge Moheto in Migori, Maji Mazuri Mixed Secondary in Baringo, Mugwandi Secondary in Kirinyaga, France Bulovi Secondary in Kakamega, Kara Secondary, Father Lia’s Temple Secondary, and Loita Secondary.
The audit study blames the closures on causes such as ongoing instability, extended learner shortages, and unresolved community problems.
Officials from the Ministry of Education have indicated that these schools may face permanent closure if deemed unviable.
The audit also uncovered that schools with fewer than 10 learners were previously receiving funds in violation of minimum enrollment requirements.
The verification exercise revealed that declared enrollment across public schools dropped from 11.6 million to just over 11 million learners, leaving more than half a million learners unaccounted for.
The Ksh 1.1 billion lost annually is believed to have been siphoned through government capitation funds to schools that either did not exist or had negligible enrollment.
Earlier, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba addressed the issue of the so-called “ghost schools,” drawing a clear distinction between schools that do not exist and cases arising from administrative data inconsistencies.
CS Ogamba had refuted claims that the government had disbursed Ksh 1.1 billion to ghost schools.
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The CS explained that these funds were actually withheld from approximately 990 schools that failed to submit the required data during a nationwide verification exercise.
In response, the Ministry had closed 10 secondary schools found to have no students following the verification drive.
All schools were ordered to re-register under the new Kenya Education Management Information System (KEMIS) by the end of 2025 to eliminate ghost entities.
Capitation funds are now strictly tied to verified data, causing temporary delays for some legitimate schools while the cleanup continues.
EXPOSED! Auditor General Reveals 87,000 ‘Ghost’ Learners Siphoning Ksh1.1 billion Annually
