Kuresoi North Member of Parliament, Alfred Mutai, has issued a warning to school administrators against the extortion of parents through unauthorised fee hikes and illegal charges for desks already provided by the government.

Speaking in Elburgon during the release of constituency funds on Saturday, May 2, 2026, the MP condemned school principals and boards who have turned educational institutions into extortionist businesses.

Mutai highlighted a recent case where certain schools doubled the fee structure mid-year, despite fees having been fully paid in January 2026.

“Kuna baadhi ya shule zimegeuka kuwa kama extortionists, zikibuni mbinu za kuwanyonya wazazi kupitia fee structures bandia, ilhali nchi yetu ina sheria na kanuni zinazopaswa kufuatwa,” Mutai said.

Loosely translate; “Some schools have turned into extortionists, devising ways to exploit parents by creating fake fee structures, yet our country has laws and regulations that should be followed,” Mutai said.

Don’t privatise a school

Mutai warned, reminding administrators that schools must operate under government guidelines. He stressed that the government is “watching” those who believe they can exploit parents without consequence.

“Viongozi wa shule kuanzia mwalimu mkuu hadi wasaidizi wanapaswa kukumbuka kuwa kila wanachofanya kinalipwa na wazazi. Msigeuze shule kuwa biashara, ilhali kuna kanuni na taratibu zinazopaswa kufuatwa,” Mutai added.

This comes following the recent orders by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba to dissolve the Board of Management of Alliance Girls High School and recommended disciplinary action against the headteacher, Margaret Njeru, over the illegal fee structure and financial mismanagement at the school.

Recent case on fee hike

This follows growing scrutiny of illegal fee hikes in public schools, with parents accusing some top schools of imposing unauthorised charges beyond the limits approved by the Ministry.

In two separate letters dated April 29, 2026, CS Ogamba directed the dissolution of the school’s Board of Management and asked the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to take disciplinary action against the headteacher.

“The report recommends the dissolution of the school’s Board of Management on account of the foregoing findings. By this letter, you are required to bring the subject report to the attention of the County Education Board for consideration, and to make appropriate recommendations to the undersigned in line with the provisions of the Basic Education Act 2013 and the regulations thereunder. Please take prompt action, noting that time is of the essence,” Ogamba said.

The case of Alliance Girls has simply brought to light the challenges many principals face in running elite national schools on limited budgets to meet the growing demands of parents and the government.

Investigation reports reveal how poor fiscal management at the local level intersected with systemic dysfunction, leading to bloated budgets and poor financial choices. But behind the scandal lies a more difficult reality – schools are being forced to act as “businesses” in a public system that hasn’t fully supported its expansion.