Auditor-General Nancy Gathungu has put two national schools under scrutiny for charging parents fees of up to Sh300,000 during the 2024 academic year, far above the limits set by the Ministry of Education.
Audit findings show that Starehe Boys Centre billed parents between Sh140,000 and Sh300,000, despite a ministry circular capping annual fees at Sh67,244.
Its counterpart, Starehe Girls Centre, charged Sh150,000 per student, nearly three times the approved Sh53,554.
The disclosures highlight growing disregard for government controls on school fees and the mounting financial strain placed on parents.
The audit for the year ended June 2024, tabled in Parliament late last year, revealed that Starehe Girls Centre almost tripled its fees while excluding parents from representation on its Board of Management.
Ms Gathungu noted that each student at the school was overcharged by Sh96,446 in a single year, contrary to the official fee structure issued by the ministry.
According to the Auditor-General, schools are legally required to obtain approval from the Education Cabinet Secretary before introducing or increasing fees, a step Starehe Girls Centre failed to take.
Similar concerns were raised at Starehe Boys Centre, where fee hikes were implemented without ministerial clearance.
While the school’s management argued that payments were agreed upon with parents based on individual ability, the auditor maintained that any increase beyond the approved Sh67,244 requires formal authorisation.
The findings come amid widespread complaints from parents over unchecked fee increases and unauthorised charges, underscoring the government’s struggle to enforce compliance among school administrations.
