A standoff between the Ministry of Education and Parliament has created a loophole for school principals to increase school fees through inflated uniform costs.
The National Assembly through a motion sponsored by Githunguri Constituency MP Gathoni Wamuchomba passed a motion to have a common school uniform for all the schools.
Despite this, the Ministry of Education led by Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu is yet to formulate a policy towards implementing the law.
While the Ministry is yet to implement the common uniform policy, it has issued a directive warning school principals not to inflate the costs.
In a circular to all school heads, the government warned schools to direct parents on where to buy school uniforms.
Additionally, the Ministry warned school heads of dictating how much school uniforms should cost arguing that parents had the right to look for affordable items.
School principals have taken advantage of the standoff between the two government arms to continue charging exorbitant sums for the uniforms.
On June 2023, Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) chairperson Kahi Indimuli vowed that school principals would continue determining the prices of the uniforms.
“I want to assure the nation we do not use our schools to mint money. We provide an opportunity for parents to easily, safely and cheaply get uniform,” Indimuli stated why schools would defy the directive.
Indimuli defended school heads noting that institutions advertise the supply of the items and go for competitive bidding.
Wamuchomba on Sunday remarked that parents were being extorted by schools since they were not aware of the circular and could not demand their rights.
She added that there were reports that some uniform associations were moving to court to stop the Ministry from implementing the circular.
