Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu has warned secondary schools’ Principals who are planning to increase school fees.
Speaking on Monday December 18th, 2023 at Lenana School when he presided over the announcement of the placement of the 2023 KCPE candidates in secondary schools, Machogu said parents are facing harsh economic times and thus should be spared from further financial burden. Machogu warned school principals and County Education Boards that they have no authority to increase fees.
“If any monkey business is done anywhere, the information will come out. Unless there is express approval from my office, no fee increase should happen. I wish to state that the boarding fees charged in public secondary schools will remain unchanged in 2024,” Machogu affirmed.
while addressing county and regional directors of education (drawn from across the country), Machogu said he would take stern action if any case of fee increment without proper authorization (from his office) is reported.
“Your main responsibility is to ensure that no principal levies any additional fee. I have eyes and ears everywhere,” he said.
Machogu has at the same time prohibited schools from forcing parents to buy uniforms at selected stores.
“Parents should be at liberty to buy uniforms anywhere. People have been making business out of it. It is not the responsibility of the school principal to buy uniforms and sell them to parents. A principal’s responsibility is not to transact business. That will be conflict of interest,” Machogu warned.
