Anger mounts over free schooling cash scandal

• Lobby plans to hold demo in city over theft of millions from free learning kitty

Pressure for top education officials to resign mounted on Tuesday with lobbyists calling for street demonstrations.

A group of civil rights activists went to Central Police station to notify the police about their protest.

Led by Mr Okoiti Omtatah, they said they will petition President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga over their lax management of state affairs.

In their letter, the members demanded the sacking of top Ministry of Education officials including the minister Prof Sam Ongeri and PS Prof Karega Mutahi following the embezzlement and general mismanagement of Free Primary Education funds.

The members will congregate at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner and march along Kenyatta Avenue to Moi Avenue, then to Uhuru Highway.

They will make stop overs at the Prime Minister’s office at Treasury building and at the Harambee House the President’s office before marching back to Freedom corner.

Elsewhere, a parents lobby says it will take legal action against Prof Mutahi for presiding over graft in the ministry.

The Kenya National Association of Parents also revealed plans to solicit, within the next 21 days, at least 10,000 signatures from individuals who had ‘incriminating evidence’ against the PS and his officers.

The lobby said they will fight tooth and nail to ensure that Prof Mutahi either resigns or is sacked by President Kibaki.

Secretary general Musau Ndunda said he had already given the Kenya Anti- Corruption Commission a full dossier on the ‘mega scam’ at the ministry and appealed to the government to include officers from the Criminal Investigations Department to ensure the matter is fully probed.

‘‘The Kacc investigators were really shocked by the information I presented to them. In fact, I am ready to be taken to court if I give false information,” said Mr Ndunda, whose organisation represents more than 4.3 million parents throughout the country.

“We are not taking this matter lightly... the lives of more than 8.6 million school going children are at stake.”

Criminal charges

He went on: “We are therefore in the process of consulting our lawyers and prepare criminal charges against the PS and his officials. Once they are ready, we shall announce our way forward.”

Mr Ndunda asked the PS to explain why he in September, diverted Sh2.4 billion from the free primary to the free secondary programme, without the consent of the 20,000 schools across the country.

The Finance ministry was also put on the spot for allowing this to happen.

On Monday, the PS denied responsibility for the suspected loss of Sh178 million from the free primary school programme through dishonest accounting.

“The minister and the PS will not be held responsible for mistakes their officers have created. Every officer must take responsibility for the loss of money under their watch,” said Prof Mutahi.