Alliance Girls' principal to face disciplinary action, board disbanded over unauthorised fee hike

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has recommended that the Teachers’ Service Commission (TSC) institutes disciplinary action against Alliance Girls High School Principal Margaret Njeru after implementing an unauthorised fee hike.

According to CS Ogamba, an assessment by the Ministry of Education revealed that Ms. Njeru presided over an illegal fee increase from the approved Ksh.53,558 to a staggering Ksh.120,179, thereby imposing a burden on the parents and guardians.

“The unauthorised fees structure was imposed without the approval of the Cabinet Secretary as by law required, and is therefore contrary to Section 29(2)(b) of the Basic Education Act, 2013,” said Ogamba in a letter to Acting TSC CEO Evaleen Mitei.

“The Principal facilitated the adoption and implementation of a budget containing non-essential and unrealistic expenditure items, as further particularized in the investigative assessment report enclosed herewith.”

The CS, in a separate letter to Regional Director of Education Sabina Aroni, further stated that an assessment carried out by the ministry’s Quality Assurance and Standards Directorate recommended the dissolution of the school board.

The report found that the board had approved a budget that contained “non-essential and unrealistic expenditure areas” which contributed to the unauthorized fee hike,

These include; moral and spiritual activities (Ksh.1,100,000); annual trips (Ksh.16 million); prize giving/speeches (Ksh.13 million); prize vouchers/sweets/examiners (Ksh.5 million); airtime/administrative allowance (Ksh.3 million).

“The Board of Management failed in its duty to guide on prudent management of financial resources. For instance, during a meeting held on 16th October, 2025, approval was granted to spend Ksh.25,000,000 on a five-day staff trip to Dubai, with the school management being tasked to find a way on how to bridge the gap of Ksh.13,000,000,” stated CS Ogamba to Ms. Aroni.

“By this letter, you are required to bring the subject report to the attention of the County Education Board for consideration and appropriate recommendations to the undersigned in line with the provisions of the Basic Education Act, 2013 and the Regulations thereunder.”