'Corrupt' principals warned ahead of form one admission

By Peter Ochieng

Thousands of learners who sat for the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) are expected to join form one across the country, starting Monday, 15th January, 2024.

Before and during the form one admission process, some school principals allegedly solicit for bribes from parents and guardians for slots allocation.

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) wants parents to report cases of principals seeking for bribes, during the form one admission exercise.

EACC spokesperson Eric Ngumbi on Friday said they have received numerous complaints from parents and guardians across the country, linking some school principals to demand for bribes, in exchange for form one admission letters.

"It is very unfortunate that principals are now an emerging group of corrupt persons. Someone may say that it is their season because it is time when form ones are being admitted," said Ngumbi.

"We are asking parents to let EACC know of any principal or person who is either soliciting or accepting bribes to issue form one admission letters."

He said reports they have received indicate that some principals are asking for between Sh10, 000 to Sh150, 000 in exchange of admission letters.

The EACC spokesman wonders how a school head can solicit for a bribe from a parent or guardian struggling to pay school fees.

"It is embarrassing and immoral to demand money from parents who are struggling to get fees for their children."

The candidates who sat for KCPE exams are expected to join national, county, extra county and sub county schools.

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu said that all the learners are in line to joining secondary schools, under the government's 100 percent transition policy.