The Commission on Administrative Justice (CAJ) on Wednesday directed the Lufinga Girls Secondary School principal to establish a parent association to ensure greater parental involvement in school affairs.
In a statement on Wednesday morning, the commission explained that the directive was necessitated by a parent's complaint highlighting corruption, unfair treatment of students, and other grievances against the principal.
The complaint further indicated that the principal directed parents to deposit school fees via a mobile money shop which ended up in a private account believed to be owned by the school.
''The Principal of Lufinga Girls' Secondary School has been directed by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) to establish a parents association to ensure greater parental involvement in school affairs. This decision follows a complaint lodged by a parent with the Commission, alleging corruption, unfair treatment of students, and other grievances against the Principal,'' a statement from CAJ read in part.
In the allegations, the principal was accused of excluding parents from school matters and not holding meetings to discuss academic performance and other important issues.
"I am a parent at the school and the Principal is deeply corrupt. She is frustrating the students and failing to provide them with food despite our payment of school fees. Additionally, she collects school fees through a local mobile money shop, directing the funds to her personal mobile money account,'' a letter from the parent to CAJ read in part.
''I come from the same village and have witnessed school employees depositing the money. She also excludes parents from school matters, holding no meetings to discuss academic performance or other important issues," it added.
This prompted the commission to reach out to the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) Chief Executive Officer Nancy Macharia to investigate the concerns raised by the parent and report to it within 21 days.
In response, the TSC formed an investigation panel to look into the complaint as per the directive of the CAJ.
The panel's findings revealed that the allegation of the principal failing to involve parents in school matters was valid and as a result, the principal was advised to establish a parents association to foster better communication and collaboration with parents.
However, the panel cleared the principal of other accusations, including the claims of not providing food to learners, collecting school fees via mobile money, and engaging in corrupt practices.
Meanwhile, the Commission directed the Director General of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) to disclose information regarding a tender awarded for the construction of the old Mai-ai-hii (Eliud Mathu) Road in Gikambura, Kari Ward, Kiambu County.
This decision follows an appeal by Lucy Kamau, a Kenyan citizen seeking access to specific project details, including licenses and permits obtained from the National Construction Authority, Engineers Board of Kenya, Survey of Kenya, and the National Environment Management Authority.
