Hi Mr. President,
Please hide my identity and help me expose this impunity or help it reach relevant authorities.
I am a parent at Kerugoya Girls’ High School with my daughter in form one headed to form two now. The school has a total number of 850 students. As new parents, we were forced to pay Ksh. 4,000 for road construction which was purportedly agreed by parents in an AGM the previous year 2017.
On 1st December 2018, I attended an AGM for this year and the principal proposed a dormitory project worth Ksh. 48,000,000 and quoted a figure of Ksh. 10,000 for every student payable before March 2019. Although all the parents strongly protested the figure was passed with a well pre-planned show where two parents sided with the principal and the fee imposed on us. In attendance were over 500 parents and there was a genuine and heated negotiation by parents on reviewing the figure downwards with some parents raising issues especially on those who have more than one student in the school. The principal was so determined and seemed to handpick the two parents who supported her in a move that seemed well organized with Board Of Management and Parents Association.
I support development projects but at this rate, my worry is that next year we shall be forced to pay a higher fee; maybe Ksh. 15-20,000. With 100% transition from class to form one then this is a setback. Apparently, parents don’t have a say in these projects, the principal makes us sign the attendance list, quotes a figure with a straight face then handpicks two parents who support her and boom the bill is passed. While some parents may be comfortable paying, there is a number who might not be able to part with such an amount.
Maybe the ministry can design a formula for passing such bills; maybe a voting system and or moderate an amount that can be payable to such projects.
Please investigate the criteria used to pass the motion in a meeting of over 500 parents and after paying Ksh. 4,000 religiously this year 2018 the figure has gone up to Ksh. 10,000, over 150% increment in 2019.
