Education Principal Secretary Given 21-Day Ultimatum Over School Registration Details

The Commission on Administrative Justice has ordered the State Department for Basic Education to provide details relating to the registration of Precious Palms Academy within 21 days.

In a statement on Friday, September 25, the Office of the Ombudsman said the order followed an application for review filed by Ms. T.N.M. after the State Department failed to provide information she had requested.

"The Commission on Administrative Justice (Office of the Ombudsman) has ordered the State Department for Basic Education to provide the registration number and year of registration of Precious Palms Academy within twenty-one (21) days," the statement read.

Ms. T.N.M. had, through an email dated December 17, 2025, requested certified copies of documents submitted to the Ministry of Education to support the registration of Precious Palms Academy, a private educational institution in Machakos County.

Her request included the title deed, whether freehold or leasehold, under which the property was presented for registration or, where applicable, the registered lease agreement relied upon by the school at the time of registration.

She also sought all documentation relating to property ownership, leasehold interest or consent submitted to the Ministry in support of the school's registration, as well as the school's registration number and year of registration.

The Commission began its review process after receiving Ms. T.N.M.'s application dated February 13, 2026.

"Upon receipt of the Applicant's application for review dated 13th February 2026, the Commission issued an Access to Information Notice dated 20th February 2026 to the Respondent, requiring it to furnish an Institutional Report and relevant documentation to enable the Commission to determine the application," the statement added.

The Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education, did not respond to the Commission's notice, prompting the Ombudsman to issue summons dated April 7, 2026, requiring the PS to appear before the Commission on April 15.

The State Department subsequently requested an adjournment through a letter dated April 14, 2026, seeking additional time to review the matter and prepare a comprehensive response.

The Commission later issued a notice dated April 21, requiring the parties to attend a meeting on May 12, 2026. However, the Principal Secretary failed to attend the scheduled meeting.

"Pursuant to Section 23(3)(a)(i) of the Access to Information Act, 2016, which permits the Commission to proceed with an inquiry where information or a report requested from a public entity is not received within the stipulated period, the Commission proceeded to determine the application based on the information before it," the statement further read.

After reviewing the facts and information before it, the Commission directed the State Department for Basic Education, through the Principal Secretary, to provide Ms. T.N.M. with the registration number and year of registration of Precious Palms Academy as requested in her December 17, 2025 email.

The Ombudsman also dismissed the portion of the review concerning the applicant's request for property ownership documents submitted to the Ministry of Education during the school's registration process.

"The Commission also dismissed the Applicant's request for a certified copy of the title deed or registered lease agreement, and all documentation relating to property ownership or consent for the property submitted to the Ministry of Education for the registration of Precious Palms Academy," the statement noted.

The Commission warned that failure to comply with the order could result in further action against the Principal Secretary under the Access to Information Act.

"In the event of non-compliance, the Commission shall recommend criminal prosecution against the Principal Secretary, State Department for Basic Education, in accordance with Section 28 of the Access to Information Act, 2016," the statement concluded.

This comes weeks after a Pwani University student has received Ksh55,200 in upkeep funds from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) following the intervention of the Commission.

In a statement on Wednesday, August 13, the Office of the Ombudsman said the student had complained to the Commission over a delay in the processing of her HELB student loan. 

She told the Commission that she was a government-sponsored student at Pwani University and had applied for HELB funding in August 2025 to support her tuition and upkeep.

The Commission said HELB had processed the student's tuition funding but failed to process her upkeep allocation, prompting her to seek its intervention.

"While HELB processed her tuition funding, it did not process her upkeep allocation, prompting her to seek the intervention of the Commission," the statement read.

Following the complaint, the Commission took up the matter with HELB through an inquiry dated May 11, 2026. 

In its response dated June 26, 2026, HELB confirmed that the student was a bona fide government-sponsored student.

The Board, however, explained that the student's initial application had identified her as a self-sponsored student, resulting in the award of tuition funding only.

"However, at the time of submitting her application, she had indicated that she was a self-sponsored student and was consequently awarded tuition fees amounting to Ksh90,301.80 only," the statement added.

HELB subsequently advised the student to correct her details on the Higher Education Financing Student Portal so that her application accurately reflected her status as a government-sponsored student.

"The Board advised Ms. W.N.M. to update her details on the Higher Education Financing Student Portal to accurately reflect her status as a government-sponsored student, which she subsequently did," the statement further read.

After the student's details were updated, HELB disbursed an additional Ksh55,200 upkeep allocation to her, resolving the complaint that had been lodged with the Commission.