Tension is rising at Mumbuni Boys High School as parents demand answers over an additional Sh. 3,000 fee imposed by the school’s principal Peter Kilonzo.

The fee, which the principal justified as necessary due to ‘empty coffers’ when he took over, has sparked concerns among parents, who now question its purpose and utilization.

Parents speaking to the media alleged that, despite making the payments, there was no clear explanation of how the funds were being used. 

“We were told the school had no money when he took over, but even after we paid, there is nothing to show for it. Where did the money go.?” Questioned a parent.

Another parent echoed similar concerns, arguing that such levies were unlawful. 

“It is against the Ministry of Education’s guidelines to introduce extra charges without proper authorization. We need transparency because this is an unfair burden on parents.”

Parents have also raised concerns about the overall management of the school under Kilonzo with some questioning whether financial mismanagement could be at play. 

“We are not against contributing to the school’s welfare, but there must be accountability. If the school had no money, why wasn’t the issue addressed through the proper channels instead of burdening parents.?” asked another parent.

According to a Ministry of Education circular dated 8th February 2023, it is illegal for public schools to impose additional fees beyond the government-approved fee structure. 

The directive was put in place to curb unauthorized levies that could disadvantage students from low-income families.