Secondary schools reeling under huge debts, principals say

 

Parents and Students go through various stages of Form 1 admission at Kisumu Day High School, Where 148 students were expected to join the Form one class on February 6, 2023. [Michael Mute, Standard]

Secondary school principals in Taita-Taveta County owe suppliers billions of shillings’ worth of pending bills, threatening to cripple the running of public institutions in the region.

The heads noted the huge outstanding bills had become a nightmare as supplies had frequently been coming to schools in search of payment for the goods and services they had rendered to 88 public secondary schools in the county.

Like Kenyatta Boys High School alone, the Chief Principal David Kagutha disclosed that the national school owes suppliers more than Sh5 million for food, laboratory equipment, text, and exercise books supplied to schools.

Other pending bills include water and electricity, the Principals told Governor Andrew  Mwadime at his Mwatate offices yesterday.

The Principals raised their concerns to the governor when he distributed scholarships worth over Sh12 million.

Mwadime said the scholarships awarded yesterday are for the completion of second and third terms fees to stop the heads from chasing away students for lack of school fees.

“Suppliers have been knocking on our doors daily to demand their dues. The problem is compounded by huge fees balances parents owe us,” Kagutha told the governor.

The principal noted the huge pending bills coupled with fee arrears have forced the management of schools to chase away students with fee balances.

 Murray Girls High School Principal Debora Okwatsa said the institution owes supplies millions of shillings of unpaid pending bills.

“The pending bills are running to millions of shillings, and the board is still waiting for the national government to disburse money to settle them for the smooth operation of the schools,” said the principal yesterday.

Bura Girls High School Principal Eunice Mwikali noted that day schools are the most affected by enormous pending bills. The national school principal noted it has become difficult for heads to run schools without enough resources.

“In most schools, heads are using their own resources to feed students because suppliers have discontinued supplying food due to huge pending bills.