Mismanagement, nepotism at Kakamega Friends school – Weekly Citizen

Friend’s School Mugai Secondary in Malava subcounty of Kakamega is not yet out of the woods three years since Henry Litu took over leadership of the institution that was on its death bed due to what was believed to be mismanagement.
Litu took over from George Lukibia who was transferred to Chekalini Secondary School in Lugari sub county. He came from Toroso Secondary School in Mt Elgon subcounty.
For the three years Litu has been at the helm of the school, the institution has been riddled with claims of mismanagement in what appears an organised cartel within members of the board of governors under Amos Chilai as the chair and the area education office.
Questions are now being raised as to why Chilai whose name was not among the nominees of the school board was sneaked in and whose interests he is serving or what the principal of the school to be swept under the carpet.
It is said the principal lobbied for his inclusivity through the then subcounty education officer Anne Shihundu who has since been transferred and replaced by Isaac Kipraisi.
Amos had served the institution for three years and the selection panel had felt he exits after what was believed as supervising scandals as it was at his time that blank cheque were signed and later filled and money paid to specific suppliers.
Recently, the board of management sacked the school accounts clerk when he attempted to reveal the ill happenings at the institution that is being looted to the core with beneficiaries of the loot who are on the board of management setting up businesses within the area to ruin the institution.

CS Magoha

A source within the school board which did not wish to be named for fear of victimisation revealed how the board of management members were getting tenders through proxy, some which are not advertised but shared within the office of the principal.
The source revealed how money was being transferred to individual bank accounts with claims the money was to pay Kenya Power electricity bills.
The law dictates that any tender above Sh50,000 should be advertised but these has never been the case at the school as things turn messy day in and night out.
Relatives and close friends of board members are the key beneficiaries of multimillion tenders after allegedly parting with huge kickbacks or allowing their companies to be used to camouflage themselves.
To protect the ill activities at the school, the Kakamega county audit office officials have been doing business with the institution and the stakeholders are calling for a forensic audit to be carried out.
They have also called for immediate resignation of the board chair and transfer of the school principal before it is too late.
They also demanded that the audit report for the past three years be tabled as it is believed there were issues that arose that the county and subcounty offices were hiding after allegedly pocketing huge bribes.
The school whose poor performance has been raising eyebrows in the area as it has all the necessary equipment is facing yet another downfall if the education office does not move with speed and save the situation