Parents of Litein High School in Kericho County have voiced outrage over what they describe as unfair and unexplained financial demands following repeated student strikes. Through their lawyers Danstan Omari, Shadrach Wambui, and Sam Nyaberi the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) has accused the school’s administration of exploiting unrests for monetary gain.
According to the parents, the school has experienced three separate strikes within a short period, each incident followed by fresh levies imposed on them. The most recent unrest, which occurred two weeks ago, saw students go on a rampage, burning classrooms and vandalising school offices.
In the aftermath, every student has reportedly been directed to pay over Ksh.49,000 to cover the alleged damages. Parents, however, question the legitimacy of the figure and are demanding transparency and accountability from the administration.
“The pattern is suspicious every time there’s a strike, parents are asked to contribute large sums of money. We want accountability and transparency,” said one aggrieved parent.
The PTA has since called for an independent audit of the funds collected after previous strikes, as well as a detailed inventory of the property reportedly destroyed. They insist that any financial penalties imposed on parents must be backed by verifiable evidence of loss or damage.
Some parents further allege that certain teachers may be exploiting the situation, using students as intermediaries to coerce parents into paying additional sums beyond the official levy.
The controversy has intensified calls for the Ministry of Education to intervene, with many parents urging an independent investigation into the cause of the recurring strikes and the school’s financial management practices.
As the debate continues, the school administration is yet to issue an official response, leaving hundreds of parents frustrated and uncertain about the next steps in resolving the matter.
