By RENSON MNYAMWEZI

Primary school heads in Taita-Taveta County have protested against alleged harassment and intimidation by auditors at the local Ministry of  Education office.

About 190 headteachers drawn from Taita, Mwatate, Voi and Taveta districts claimed that auditors were demanding hefty bribes before looking at school books of accounts.

The Ministry of Education has launched investigation into the claims.

Under the free primary school education fund, schools have tuition and general purpose accounts that are audited annually.

Yesterday the head teachers claimed that auditors were demanding Sh1,000 for each account and charged more if they detect any problems.

“There are no receipts issued by the auditors for the money collected. Once they find clerical errors or audit queries in the books of accounts they demand between Sh7,000 and Sh10,000 or threaten dire consequences,” claimed one of the teachers.

Speaking to The Standard yesterday, the teachers claimed that the audit department has introduced mandatory illegal audit fees to fleece schools.

“We are tried of persistent harassment and intimidation by the auditors and the Government must intervene. Some of the teachers have refused to send books of accounts to the corrupt and inept officials while others have threatened to step down if action is not taken against the auditors,” said a head teacher.

The head teachers claimed that they had reported the matter to the District Education Office (DEO) in vain.

“We recently met as heads and sent a memorandum to the DEO’s office complaining over the issue but no action had been taken against the auditors,” protested one of the head teachers.

Taita DEO Samuel Nyantika confirmed that he had received complaints from teachers on alleged harassment by auditors and said the matter was being investigated.

The DEO said two teams had been appointed to investigate the claims and legal action would be taken against auditors found culpable.

“Auditors have introduced a programme of collecting money which is not in order,” said Mr Nyantika.

“We are treating this issue as allegations. The matter will be exhaustively deliberated on at a leaders meeting scheduled for today (yesterday) in Voi town and come up with a way forward,” said the DEO.

Efforts to reach the District Auditor Sammy Musau were fruitless as his phone went unanswered.