Navakholo Member of Parliament (MP) Emmanuel Wangwe has rejected proposals by the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) to increase school fees by 60 per cent, warning that struggling Kenyan families cannot bear another financial burden amid the country’s worsening economic hardships.

Speaking on Saturday, June 27, 2026, concerning the growing push for higher school fees, the MP said the proposal risks locking thousands of children out of classrooms at a time when many parents are already struggling to meet basic household needs due to the high cost of living.

Wangwe questioned whether ordinary Kenyans would realistically sustain education expenses if such a sharp increase were implemented across schools.

“Wakisema wapandishe school fees by 50 per cent watoto wetu watasoma kweli? Economy iko mbaya, maisha ni mbaya,” Wangwe said.

MP says school fees changes must be gradual

While acknowledging that school fees may eventually need adjustments depending on changing economic realities, Wangwe insisted any increment must happen gradually and not through abrupt increases that place pressure on parents already facing financial strain.

The lawmaker maintained that education remains a sensitive issue affecting millions of households and should not be subjected to rushed policy decisions.

“Tunaamini kuwa school fees but with time let us vary with time, but increment ya 60 per cent sisi hatuko huko… pole pole,” he warned.

Wangwe’s remarks now place fresh pressure on education stakeholders as debate intensifies over the future cost of secondary education in the country.

Debate reopens concerns over government education policy

The latest opposition to the proposed increase comes months after President William Ruto publicly moved to calm fears over school fee hikes ahead of the January 2026 school reopening, dismissing claims that the government had approved any increase.

At the time, Ruto assured parents that no child in a day secondary school would be sent home over fees, insisting the government remained committed to supporting education through capitation funding.

“No child should be sent home from any day school because of matters of school fees, because the government is going to cover the education of our children,” Ruto said.

Parents likely to resist new education costs

The renewed school fees debate is expected to spark concern among parents, with growing fears that any major increase could undermine gains made under free basic education as families continue battling economic pressure across the country.