Siaya county principals have demanded investigations against a senior ministry official over alleged malpractices.
They said Education ministry auditor George Nduruchi has been frustrating them and seeking kickbacks to prepare favourable audit reports. The school heads spoke in anonymity for fear of victimisation.
"No one wants to get into the bad book of audit queries, but instead of the auditor doing his job professionally, he has resorted to blackmail to satisfy his interest," one principal said.
When contacted, however, Nduruchi dismissed the claims. He said he's never done such a thing and it was the first time he was hearing such allegations.
He said audit reports are informed by facts and cannot be based on kickbacks. "We don’t write reports based on money but based on facts," he said.
Knut secretary general Siaya branch Alex Dunga confirmed that four principals have this year filed complaints against Nduruchi. He said he had yet to contact the county auditor’s office over the claims.
“The last time I was to meet with him, I missed him in his office but I promised him on the phone to come back,” Dunga said.
He said they will seek an audience with the county director of education and recommend further action if it turns out the auditor is engaging in malpractices.
"It’s at that point, as a union, that we will highlight the rot if he is not doing his work according to the code of ethics,” Dunga added.
Yesterday, efforts to get a comment from Kuppet branch secretary-general Sam Opondo bore no fruit. He promised to take part in a phone interview in the evening. When contacted later, he did not return calls.
(Edited by F'Orieny)
