Unanswered questions over school allocations, cheque processing and classroom renovation costs have prompted calls for an independent investigation into the constituency’s NG-CDF expenditure.
Parents in Kitui East are calling on the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to investigate constituency development funds announced for local schools by area MP Nimrod Mbai, amid questions over cheque transactions and whether millions of shillings reached the intended beneficiaries.
At the centre of the concerns is KSh7.3 million announced for four learning institutions during a public gathering on September 24, 2026. Cheques were presented, school projects announced and expectations raised over improvements that the funding was meant to support.
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But information obtained by Channel 15 News has raised questions about what happened after the public presentation, particularly the processing of cheques for Inyuu Primary School, which was allocated the largest share at KSh5.7 million.
Parents and other members of the school community are seeking answers over whether the money was transferred to the institution, how the subsequent renovation works were financed and whether the expenditure reflected the allocation announced.
Their concerns have widened beyond Inyuu, with questions also emerging over money promised to Thua Secondary School, Kwa Aombe Primary School and Ilamba Primary School.
The parents want EACC to examine the financial records and establish whether the funds were released, who received them and how they were spent.
The KSh5.7 Million Cheque Questions
Inyuu Primary School was allocated KSh5.7 million during the September 24 gathering.
The amount was broken down into KSh700,000 for an administration block, KSh1 million for fencing and a gate, and KSh4 million for classroom renovations.
The public presentation of cheques raised expectations that the money would be available for the planned projects.
However, information obtained by Channel 15 News from sources familiar with the school’s financial and administrative records raises questions about what happened during the subsequent processing of the cheques.
According to the accounts, the cheques were signed during the gathering but reportedly lacked one of the required signatures. Sources further indicate that the documents subsequently went through a process intended to complete the outstanding requirements, but the cheques were reportedly not returned to the school.
The circumstances surrounding the transactions have left a critical question unanswered: Were the cheques eventually processed, and was the KSh5.7 million transferred to the school’s bank account?
The uncertainty was compounded by reports that individuals later visited the institution, claiming to have been sent by NG-CDF management to inspect renovation works.
Channel 15 News has not independently established the final destination of the cheques or confirmed whether the full allocation reached the school. The school’s bank statements, cheque records, payment vouchers and official NG-CDF disbursement documents would be crucial in establishing what happened.
For parents, the issue is whether the money announced for the school was actually received and properly accounted for.
Beyond the four school allocations, residents are also calling on EACC to conduct a comprehensive review of NG-CDF expenditure in Kitui East throughout MP Nimrod Mbai’s two terms in Parliament. They want the commission to scrutinise projects undertaken across the constituency, verify the amounts allocated against actual expenditure, examine procurement and contractor payments, and establish whether completed projects reflect the public funds committed to them.
KSh4 Million for Renovations: The Cost Questions
The classroom renovation project has become another source of concern, particularly over the relationship between the KSh4 million allocation and the work reportedly completed.
Accounts from the school community indicate that the renovations took approximately two to three weeks and covered as many as six classrooms.
The work reportedly involved repairing floors, installing doors and windows, plastering walls and replacing iron sheets. Some old timber was also reportedly reused.
Preliminary estimates cited by sources place the possible market value of the works between KSh1.5 million and KSh2 million.
The estimates have not, however, been established through a professional bill of quantities, independent technical assessment or examination of contractor payment records. They cannot therefore be treated as the confirmed project cost or proof of financial loss.
Even so, the difference between the announced KSh4 million allocation and the preliminary estimates has prompted calls for a detailed account of the project.
Parents want to know how the budget was arrived at, who undertook the renovations, what materials were purchased and how much was paid to the contractor.
They are also seeking clarification on the procurement process and whether the completed works were inspected and formally approved.
A professional assessment, supported by the contract, bill of quantities, payment records and inspection reports, would help establish the actual cost and scope of the renovations.
Thua School’s KSh1.2 Million Allocation Also Questioned
The concerns extend to Thua Secondary School, which was reportedly promised KSh1.2 million during the same September 24 gathering to settle outstanding school fee balances dating back to 2002.
The announcement raised hopes among former students whose national examination certificates had reportedly been withheld over unpaid fees.
However, parents claim that some outstanding balances remain unsettled and that certificates belonging to former students are still being withheld.
The school community is now seeking clarification on whether the KSh1.2 million was released and, if so, how the money was applied to the outstanding balances.
Kwa Aombe Primary School and Ilamba Primary School were each promised KSh200,000.
The four allocations add up to KSh7.3 million, making records from each institution important in establishing whether the announced funds were received and used for their intended purposes.
Parents Want EACC to Follow the Money
The questions surrounding the allocations have prompted parents to call for EACC to investigate NG-CDF expenditure in Kitui East.
They want the commission to examine the funding process, from project approval and procurement to cheque processing, disbursement and implementation.
The proposed scrutiny would need to establish whether the money announced for the schools reached the intended institutions, how contractors were selected and paid, and whether the expenditure corresponds with the work delivered.
It would also help clarify the financial arrangements behind projects whose allocations were publicly announced but whose payment and implementation records remain unclear.
Bank statements, procurement documents, contracts, payment vouchers and technical inspection reports would be essential in tracing the funds.
The call for an investigation comes amid concerns among residents over accountability in the management of constituency development funds. However, the allegations surrounding the school allocations have not been independently established as evidence of financial misconduct.
An EACC inquiry would provide an opportunity to establish the facts, determine whether any irregularities occurred and identify where responsibility, if any, lies.
Mbai Yet to Respond
Channel 15 News made several attempts to obtain a response from Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai regarding the reported cheque transactions, the status of the school allocations and questions surrounding the classroom renovation costs.
However, the attempts were futile, as the MP had not responded to calls or the detailed questions submitted to him by the time of publication.
The constituency’s NG-CDF management and the beneficiary institutions also need to clarify the amounts released, payments made and projects completed.
No finding of financial misconduct has been established through the information currently available to this publication. The questions raised by parents require verification through official financial and project records, as well as responses from those responsible for managing the funds.
For the parents, the issue is ultimately about whether money announced for their children’s schools translated into the promised improvements.
Until the financial records are made public and the cheque transactions accounted for, the KSh7.3 million allocation will remain at the centre of an uncomfortable question: Did the money reach the schools it was meant to benefit?
