National Assembly's Public Investments Committee on Education and Governance on Thursday held tense engagements with heads of six technical institutions, raising the alarm over persistent audit lapses, poor governance, and lack of accountability in public training colleges.

The Committee, chaired by Bumula MP Wanami Wamboka, was reviewing audit queries flagged by the Auditor General for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 financial years, but several institutions failed to provide satisfactory responses.

The sessions began with frustration when Maasai Mara Technical Training Institute Principal Rachel Kimani was asked to leave for failing to appear with the relevant officials who served during the audit period.

“Our invitation letter to you was very categorical that your predecessor was to attend this meeting,” said Wamboka. “We cannot proceed without the principal who was in charge during the audit period.”

Kapcherop Technical Training Institute Principal Elias Rotich also faced a similar dismissal for showing up unprepared, which left members questioning the seriousness of the institutions’ leadership.

“These principals don’t seem ready to answer our questions, we cannot undertake such meetings without the accounting officers responsible for the audit questions,” said Francis Sigei, the MP for Sotik.

Appearing next was Kipkabus Technical and Vocational Training College Principal Eric Tanui, who faced tough questions over irregular expenditures, non-compliance with ethnic staff composition requirements, and stalled infrastructure projects.

Despite serving at the college for two years, the principal struggled to explain the audit issues, a concern that left MPs doubting his suitability.

“It makes no sense that a principal has been in a school for two years but has no access to files of projects, neither does he understand the basic law on ethnic composition of staff,” said Kilome MP Thaddeus Nzambia.

Wamboka added, “If the principal does not understand what the Law says, how do we expect him to comply with its provisions?”

The Committee further faulted the institution for failing to deduct taxes from allowances paid to board members. MPs instructed the principal to recover the money from beneficiaries and ensure future payments include proper tax deductions.

Moiben Technical and Vocational College Principal Viola Ng’etich was grilled for authorising KSh 1.73 million in staff training costs without conducting any training needs assessment or providing a clear plan. “You cannot successfully run an institution where you don’t address the staff’s needs,” said Narok MP Rebecca Tonkei.

Moiben TVC was also blamed for slow responses to audit queries. Kitutu Chache North MP Anthony Kibagendi said the Office of the Auditor General must do more to guide young institutions through the audit process. “These young institutions need guidance on the audit processes, hence the Office of the Auditor General must indulge them to avert these recurrent problems.”

At Ollessos National Polytechnic, Principal Wesley Yegon was questioned on multiple gaps, including failure to observe the one-third gender rule in staffing, poor procurement planning, unregistered trainers, and major financial losses from the institution’s catering and farming operations. According to audit findings, the school lost KSh 21.8 million in catering and another KSh 743,687 in farming for the 2023/24 financial year.

The final session featured Laisamis Technical Training Institute Principal Charles Rotich, who faced scrutiny over lack of ownership documents for two parcels of land donated by the community and now held in trust by the Marsabit County Government.

MPs also queried the absence of an internal audit committee, missing asset register, late financial reporting, and underutilization of 37 percent of the college’s budget.

“How do you spend public money without any accountability?” asked Lunga Lunga MP Chiforomodo Mangale.

The committee vowed to intensify its probe and ensure that institutions across the country answer for how they manage public resources.