Mang’u High School Principal Bernard Mwangi King’ah has defended the Ksh46,082 extra fee charged to each student under the school’s Parents Association Support Programme, saying the money partly funded an enriched diet for learners.
Principal King’ah told the National Assembly Public Investments Committee on Governance and Education on September 17 that changing the school’s diet could affect students, as the institution had maintained the enhanced menu over the years.
“The school offers an enriched diet over the year, and changing it may not go well with the students,” he said.
King’ah said the additional funds were used not only for food but also to support security, technical workshops, co-curricular activities, and laboratory requirements.
He said Mang’u had to maintain an enriched diet while dealing with rising operational costs.
“The school always prepares an annual budget which is presented to the parents and Board of Management for approval and later always seeks to be granted authority to charge some extra money,” he said.
Mang’u and Other National Schools Flagged
The Mang’u principal also cited security costs, saying the school’s compound was only partially fenced and surrounded by bush and the Witeithie slums.
He further pointed to expenditure on technical workshops and equipment, extensive co-curricular activities and laboratory materials, noting that all students take three science subjects.
However, the Auditor-General said the school had not provided evidence of the required Ministry approval for the Ksh46,082 charge.
At Alliance High School, students were charged Ksh68,554 against an approved fee of Ksh53,554 in the 2020/2021 financial year, resulting in an additional Ksh15,000 per student.
According to the school, parents had agreed to contribute Ksh30,792 in 2024 and Ksh26,000 in 2025 towards the school budget.
Alliance High School Principal David Kamau attributed the additional charges to rising costs of goods and services and the need to maintain the school’s standards.
He said the school had been running large budget deficits because of rising market prices. Parents subsequently approached the Board of Management through the Parents Association and agreed to establish a kitty to support the school budget.
The Auditor-General said the charges were contrary to Ministry guidelines, which specify the costs parents must cover, including school uniforms, approved boarding-related expenses, and lunch for day scholars.
Limuru Girls’ School
At Limuru Girls’ School, students were charged Ksh73,580 against an approved fee of Ksh53,580, resulting in an additional Ksh20,000 per student.
Chief Principal Susan Kariuki said the additional funds were approved at an Annual General Meeting by the Parents Teachers Association and later endorsed by the Board of Management.
She said the money was intended to cover rising food, electricity and water costs, which the school said standard fees could not fully cover due to delays in capitation and budget deficits.
Kariuki acknowledged that the school had failed to obtain written authority from the Cabinet Secretary before implementing the additional charge.
She said the school later applied to the Ministry of Education for approval of the additional levy.
Kiambu High School Fees
At Kiambu High School, auditors identified fee variances ranging from Ksh717 to Ksh7,946 per student against an approved fee of Ksh53,554.
Principal Joshua Maina Nderitu attributed the additional charges to a development programme the construct two classrooms and a 120-capacity dormitory.
He said the project was necessary to address pressure on the school’s infrastructure following the 100 per cent transition from primary to secondary education.
According to Nderitu, parents approved the project, and the school also obtained approval to impose the additional levy.
The development helped ease congestion in the school’s classrooms and dormitories.
How Much Should Parents Pay for School Fees
The Ministry of Education gazetted a standardized public senior school fee structure effective January 5, 2026, with fees spread across three terms.
Under the structure, former national schools, now classified as Cluster 1, have an annual parental contribution of Ksh53,554, plus Ksh22,244 in government capitation, bringing the total annual cost to Ksh75,798.
Former extra-county schools in Cluster 2 have a parental contribution of Ksh45,054, while Cluster 3 schools have a parental contribution of Ksh40,035. Day senior schools do not require a parental tuition contribution, with the government providing Ksh22,244 in annual capitation.
The Ministry also set the annual parental contribution for special needs senior schools at Ksh12,790, with government capitation standing at Ksh57,974.
Schools must collect the approved parental contribution in three instalments: 50 per cent in Term One, 30 per cent in Term Two, and the remaining 20 per cent in Term Three.
The fee structure also bars public schools from imposing additional tuition fees or other unauthorized levies outside the approved amounts.
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