Kenyan MPs question principal over KSh 992,950 paid to Catholic heads' body CAPSA

Parliament's Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education questioned a school principal on 14 October over KSh 992,950 her school paid to the Catholic Principals Schools Association (CAPSA), The Star reported on 19 October 2026. The committee also examined KSh 383,525 that the same school paid to the Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (KESSHA) for co-curricular activities.

Florence Mutwiri, chief principal of St Mary's Girls High School-Igoji, appeared before the committee with the school's bursar at Parliament Buildings. MPs say neither KESSHA nor CAPSA is anchored in law.

One school had paid KESSHA about KSh 6 million and another about KSh 5 million, the paper said. The committee's chairperson, Luanda MP Dick Maungu, said: "If you convert them into all the schools in the country, there are billions going to KESSHA."

Bomachoge Chache MP Alpha Miruka asked: "How and why are you transferring money to KESSHA and CAPSA? Under which vote and under which law?" He warned: "If you transfer this money to another account, you will be held responsible as an individual." He also said: "The ministry gives you money to spend."

Narok County Woman Representative Rebecca Tonkei asked: "What rules or law did you use to transfer this money to CAPSA? This is the first time I am hearing about it."

Mutwiri told the committee that CAPSA brings together about 100 active Catholic schools in Meru and Tharaka Nithi. She could not give a national membership figure. The contributions paid for activities such as training teacher chaplains, principals' retreats and student leadership training, she said.

Asked for the legal basis, Mutwiri said: "I will explain without quoting the law because it is not law."

Kasipul MP Boyd Were, the committee's vice chairperson, said: "We have no issue with KESSHA as an association." He said the Auditor General had identified it as a welfare organisation not recognised by law to receive public funds. Were told schools to stop remitting money to KESSHA until the committee gets guidance from the Ministry of Education, which it will seek on both associations.

The Star reported on 16 July 2026 that the committee planned to summon principals of national and other secondary schools handling more than 10 million in capitation. Capitation is the grant the government pays public schools for each learner.

KESSHA's national chairman, Willie Kuria, who is also principal of Murang'a High School, said the government had disbursed only KSh 14,050 per learner this year against an approved KSh 22,244, The Standard reported on 1 September 2026. The paper said the KSh 14,050 excludes KSh 2,000 retained by the Ministry of Education.