A recent review by the Ministry of Education has raised concerns over fee changes at Alliance Girls High School, prompting action from Julius Ogamba.
The Cabinet Secretary has now recommended disciplinary measures against the school’s principal, Margaret Njeru, following what has been described as an unauthorised increase in school fees.
The ministry’s findings show that the fees were raised far beyond the approved amount, moving from Ksh.53,558 to Ksh.120,179.
This sharp increase placed significant pressure on parents and guardians, many of whom were not consulted before the changes were implemented.
The issue has drawn attention to how financial decisions are made in public schools and the role of oversight bodies.
In a formal communication to Teachers’ Service Commission through its acting CEO Evaleen Mitei, Ogamba pointed to breaches of the law governing school fees.
“The unauthorised fees structure was imposed without the approval of the Cabinet Secretary as by law required, and is therefore contrary to Section 29(2)(b) of the Basic Education Act, 2013,” said Ogamba in a letter to Acting TSC CEO Evaleen Mitei.
“The Principal facilitated the adoption and implementation of a budget containing non-essential and unrealistic expenditure items, as further particularized in the investigative assessment report enclosed herewith.”
The matter goes beyond the principal alone. In another letter addressed to Sabina Aroni, the CS indicated that the school’s Board of Management also failed in its duties.
A review conducted by the ministry’s Quality Assurance and Standards Directorate recommended that the board be dissolved.
According to the report, the board approved spending plans that included several costly and questionable items.
Among them were Ksh.1.1 million for moral and spiritual activities, Ksh.16 million for annual trips, Ksh.13 million for prize giving and speeches, and Ksh.5 million for prize-related expenses. Administrative costs, including airtime allowances, were also flagged.
One of the most notable concerns involved a planned five-day staff trip to Dubai, estimated at Ksh.25 million.
The board reportedly asked school management to find ways to cover a funding gap of Ksh.13 million, raising further questions about financial discipline.
The CS has now directed that the report be forwarded to the County Education Board for review and action, in line with the Basic Education Act.
