Parents from Nakuru Girls’ High School have condemned the sudden increase in the third-term fees, noting that such an increase has imposed an unbearable financial burden on them. According to a newsletter dated July 31, 2024, this increase pushes the fees from Ksh. 10,711 to Ksh. 26,211, an increase of 150 percent. This steep increase has generated heated protests, especially following earlier objections against school finances and alleged procurement scandals.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has been investigating the school for procurement malpractices, although the implicated individuals denied the allegations. Now parents want to know if the increase in fees was approved by the Ministry of Education and demand transparency.
A petition dated August 12, 2024, signed by representatives of the parents to the Chief Principal Rose Menjo for provision of all communications between the School and the Ministry, especially any approval letters for the hike in fees. There is also a petition signed by representatives of the parents and dated August 12, 2024, to Chief Principal Rose Menjo to provide all communications between the school and the Ministry, particularly any approval letters for hiking fees. According to the parents, the increment was announced and imposed as a resolution of the AGM of July 19, 2024, and later followed by its adoption by the Board of Management on July 26, 2024.
Levies, dating back to 2022, raised for projects such as a perimeter wall and a school gate, add to the woes of these parents. Questions raised over how these funds have been managed include why they are deposited into a regular school fees account and not a project-specific one, raising issues with transparency.
The petition also raises concern over the school’s debt, which is reported to have increased to over Ksh 31 million. The parents are demanding to know how the debt has risen so drastically, wanting detailed financial disclosures from the administration.
Despite several efforts to get comments from the school principal, there was no response by the time of going to press. However, the chairperson of the Board of Management sent a message from the Parents Association Chair nullifying the Ksh 15,500 fee increment and Form 1 Computer Project pending further notice. The move puts the parents in a limbo on what direction the school’s financial policies will take and their effect in the future of their children in terms of education.