Audit Exposes Garissa University’s Use of Unapproved Mobile Money for Fees.
A recent audit has criticized Garissa University for using unapproved mobile money systems to collect student tuition fees, bypassing the standard procedure of bank account payments.
According to Auditor General Nancy Gathungu, the university’s Fee Policy 2018 does not authorize mobile money as a payment method.
Despite its convenience, the policy had not been revised to accommodate it, raising concerns about the legitimacy of this revenue collection practice.
The audit, covering the year ending June 30, 2023, revealed that the university’s management had not ensured compliance with its fee policy, leaving the regularity of mobile money transactions unverified.
Leadership Gaps and Non-Compliance with the University Act
The audit also flagged Garissa University’s failure to appoint a substantive vice chancellor for six years. Since receiving a charter on October 23, 2017, the university operated under an acting VC, whose six-month renewable contracts were sanctioned by the Cabinet Secretary for Education.
Additionally, the posts of deputy vice-chancellors remained vacant. While interviews for these positions were conducted in December 2019 following advertisements in July that year, court orders stalled the hiring process. As of February 2024, the matter remained unresolved, leaving key leadership roles unfilled.
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The auditor criticized the Cabinet Secretary for Education for perpetuating acting appointments, which violated Section 35 of the University Act, 2012. The law mandates the appointment of substantive VCs who serve as chief executives, management board chairs, senate leaders, and university councils’ secretaries.
“It was noted that the Cabinet Secretary for Education has been granting the Acting Vice Chancellor six-month renewable contracts,” Gathungu said.
Recent Developments and Further Controversies
Following the audit, Garissa University appointed Osman Warfa as vice chancellor in September 2024 after advertising the position in March and conducting interviews in July. However, Warfa’s appointment has faced resistance.
The auditor raised concerns over the payment of over Sh2.4 million in acting allowances to the acting VC and deputy VC for three years. This contravened the Public Service Human Resource Policies and Procedures, 2016, which limit acting allowances to six months.
Governance and Payroll Issues
The audit highlighted governance lapses, including the failure to appoint a council member to replace a retired official whose term ended on November 8, 2022. This left the council improperly constituted, violating the law.
Payroll management controls were also deemed inadequate. The audit identified anomalies such as employees sharing tax PINs and identity card numbers, undermining the integrity of payroll records.
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Summary of Key Findings
| Issue | Details | Policy Breach |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile money fee collection | Unapproved by Fee Policy 2018 | Non-compliance with fee policy |
| Acting VC appointments | Lasted six years | Breach of University Act, 2012 |
| Acting allowances | Paid for three years | Exceeded six-month limit (Public Service Policy) |
| Council member replacement | Post vacant since November 2022 | Improperly constituted council |
| Payroll anomalies | Shared tax PINs and ID numbers | Weak payroll controls |
Audit Exposes Garissa University’s Use of Unapproved Mobile Money for Fees.
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