The Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang, has been summoned by the Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman).
In a statement on Friday, August 2, Kipsang was summoned alongside his Health counterpart Mary Muthoni and the National Registration Bureau (NRB) secretary, Chrisopher Kinyua Wanjau.
The three were required to appear before the commission on August 7 and August 8 at 10:00 a.m.
"The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has summoned the Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education, Dr. Belio Kipsang; Principal Secretary, State Department for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms. Mary Muthoni and Mr. Christopher Kinyua Wanjau, Secretary, National Registration Bureau, to appear before the commission on 7th and 8th August, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
"The summonses have been issued in pursuant to Article 59 (2) (h-k) and Article 252 (3) of the Constitution, as well as Sections 27 and 28 of the Commission on Administrative Justice Act, 2011. The public officers are required to appear for purposes of questioning or disclosure of information and/or production of documents and examination," the Commission stated.
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According to the commission, Dr. Kipsang was summoned for failing to provide an update on a complaint lodged against the department and for failing to respond to a summon dated May 13, 2024.
"A concerned parent complained to the commission alleging that the principal of Mbita High School increased school fees by Ksh10,000 which was termed a 'development levy' without consultation with the relevant stakeholders.
"The commission initiated an inquiry and on September 1, 2023, Dr. Kipsang responded that he had not given authority to the school to impose the levy and further directed the County Director of Education, Homabay, to investigate and report back to him. However, Kipsang is yet to provide feedback to the commission," the statement furtehr read.
The Health PS was summoned for failing to respond to a summon issued to her on July 5, 2024, while the NRB secretary was summoned for failure to respond to a complaint lodged against his department.
The commission cautioned that a public officer who fails to honour summons may face fines up to Ksh500,000 or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, under Section 52 of the Commission on Administrative Justice Act, 2011.
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