MP Caroli Omondi wants biometric IDs to end ghost learners in schools
By David Nthua, July 28, 2025Suba South Constituency Member of Parliament Caroli Omondi has sent a special plea to the government to resort to biometric identification of students across the schools in Kenya, saying it will be one of the best ways to curb the issue of ghost learners.
Speaking to the media on Monday, July 28, 2025, the legislator urged the government to make better use of existing technology to clean up the education system.
Using BVR Kits to curb ghost schools
“On this issue of ghost learners and schools, again, I say it is a lack of seriousness by the government. We have BVR kits, biometrics kits in IEBC that are used once to register voters. Why can’t we use them to register students? Why can’t we generate enough data of who our students are using biometrics so that you cannot lie to us?” Omondi said.
He criticised the failure to take action on long-standing audit findings about the presence of non-existent learners and schools.
“It is not the first time the Auditor General is reporting about ghost schools and students, but I have not heard anyone charged or prosecuted in courts for running a ghost school. It is just a lack of government seriousness,” he added.
Accountability and transparency
The MP warned that such lapses in accountability were now being used as an excuse to deny Kenyan children access to free education.
“We cannot take the incompetence of people who are supposed to be doing these things to turn around and say we cannot afford free primary education. Either we get serious and do it, or keep lying to Kenyans, we cannot afford it,” Omondi stated.
His remarks come amid growing concern over inflated enrolment figures in some public schools. Reports have indicated that schools are receiving funding based on student numbers that may not exist in reality, raising questions about mismanagement and potential loss of public funds.
Also, there has been a public outcry following reports that the government may be forced to end the free primary and secondary schools education program that has seen learners from poor backgrounds in Kenya since 2002 enjoy subsidised learning.