With the third school term set to begin this Monday, a lobby group has warned that the majority of Kenyan parents are being forced to shoulder illegal fees, leaving the education sector in crisis.
The Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) released findings showing that 90 percent of public schools impose unapproved admission charges ranging from Sh500 to Sh25,000. Many of these payments are collected without receipts, creating fertile ground for corruption. “This is exploitation, not education,” said EBWG member Maxwel Magawi.
According to the lobby, delayed disbursement of government funds has worsened the situation. Though the state allocates Sh1,420 per primary pupil, Sh15,042 for junior secondary, and Sh22,244 for senior secondary learners, delays in releasing these funds leave schools cash-strapped and parents vulnerable to extortion.
The group has called for real-time monitoring of school accounts, mandatory refunds for parents who have been illegally charged, and penalties for errant administrators. It also insists that all payments be subjected to rigorous quarterly audits to restore accountability.
Beyond funding, EBWG raised red flags over student safety. It cited the 2024 Endarasha Hillside Academy fire, which killed 21 students, as evidence of gross negligence. Many schools, the lobby revealed, have ignored mandatory safety audits, with funds for protective infrastructure often misused.
On policy, the group expressed frustration with the slow rollout of reforms recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reforms (PWPER). “We need clarity on the actual cost of transitioning to Competency-Based Education. Without that, implementation will remain half-baked,” Magawi said.
EBWG now wants President William Ruto’s administration to prioritize free education, strengthen oversight, and end the culture of impunity in schools.
