Kenya: A protest by parents and Elimu Yetu Coalition (EYC) members to push for action from the Ministry of Education over high secondary school fees turned violent when police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
The group had gathered outside Jogoo House in Nairobi from 9am yesterday to demand answers from Education Cabinet Secretary Joseph Kaimenyi when anti-riot police arrived and dispersed them. EYC National Coordinator Janet Muthoni Ouko was arrested.
Dressed in t-shirts printed '100,000K Education for all, Not a few', and carrying banners and copies of fee structures from various schools, the parents expressed bitterness over the high cost of school fees which they said was maliciously being charged to lock out children from poor families from national schools.
They claimed the Government had failed to control schools and had let school heads run schools like private entities.
"The Government has allowed principals to run schools like private entities and even after giving them instructions on reducing fees, they do not adhere to them," said Ms Ouko.
Numerous concerns
Ouko said the ministry has demonstrated irresponsibility and conflict of interest through their failure to control schools.
She said the parents had approached the organisations with numerous concerns which they have been addressing since 2013.
"This is a process. We have been engaging the Government through letters, memorandums and even through Parliament but action has not yet been taken. We are protesting since other channels have failed,"Ouko said.
Ouko, whose organisation is a coalition of various groups said serious steps must be taken to secure education of every child.
"We cannot sit and watch children being denied education on the basis of finances yet they have the brains to excel," she said.
The parents whose children have been admitted to Form One this month say the fee is too high and unaffordable for them.
They said they do not understand why schools are offering varying charges even when they are of the same rank.
SERVICE DELIVERY
The parents want the amounts harmonised for fairness.
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"How can boarding fees for one school be Sh19,000 and another Sh35,000 yet they are of the same level. What criteria is used to determine how much to charge?" wondered Michael Mandukwa.
Mr Mandukwa whose son has been admitted to Form One says Sh50,000 per term is a very large amount of money for him.
"My son is in school but I haven't cleared school fees yet. The deadline was yesterday so I expect to see him back home this week," he said.
Mandukwa, who is a businessman, said the Government should take charge and fulfil its promise of free secondary education.
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