The government has issued a stern warning to high school principals and administrators regarding the ungoverned hiking of school fees.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba spoke on Thursday, January 9, during the announcement of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results, noting the worrying trend among reputable high schools.
According to the CS, parents across the country have raised concerns over inexplicable levies that are imposed on school fees, leading to exorbitant figures.
"The Ministry has noted a disturbing situation where some senior schools are turning to the band practice of charging levies," the CS said in his speech adding that the government had not approved any new levies added on top of initial high school fees.
He added, "I wish to put it on record that the government will not condone the practice and will take stern action against school administrators who are found to be levying extra charges on parents."
Ogamba further emphasised that the fees charged in secondary schools this year should be the same as that charged in 2024.
The CS's latest warning came amid complaints from guardians of secondary school students who have noted strange additions to the fee structure for the year 2025.
A quick spot check by Kenyans.co.ke revealed some of the reputable schools in question have added fees that were previously not on the 2024 structure, including items like development fees and improvement levies.
These new levies are not cheap either, as according to fee structures obtained by Kenyans.co.ke, parents have been subjected to hikes ranging between KSh9000 and KSh15,000.
On Tuesday, January 7, one High School in Nairobi came under fire for allegedly locking students out allegedly because of school fees arrears.
This prompted the intervention of Makadara Member of Parliament (MP) George Aladwa who deployed his response team to get to the bottom of the matter while directing the school to allow the stranded students in.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education also announced it had liaised with the National Treasury to ensure that the KSh 48b capitation grants for primary junior, and secondary school levels are disbursed.
