Kenya orders disciplinary action against Alliance Girls principal over illegal fee hike

Key facts

• Principal Margaret Njeru presided over an unauthorised fee increase from Sh53,558 to Sh120,179.
• The hike violated Section 29(2)(b) of the Basic Education Act, 2013.
• CS Ogamba recommended disciplinary measures against Njeru in a letter dated April 29, 2026.
• The Quality Assurance and Standards Directorate recommended dissolving the school's board of management.
• The board approved Sh25 million for a five-day staff trip to Dubai, with a Sh13 million funding gap.
• Flagged budget items include Sh16 million for annual trips and Sh13 million for prize-giving and speeches.
• was tabled before the County Education Board for consideration.

Unauthorised fee hike nearly doubles charges

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has recommended disciplinary measures against Alliance Girls High School Principal Margaret Njeru after an investigation revealed she presided over an unauthorised fee increase that nearly doubled the approved charges. A circular signed by Ogamba, dated April 29, 2026, states that the principal oversaw a fee hike from the required Sh53,558 to Sh120,179 without approval from the Cabinet Secretary, in violation of Section 29(2)(b) of the Basic Education Act, 2013. “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,” read part of the letter addressed to Acting Teachers Service Commission CEO Evaleen Mitei.

Principal and board blamed for reckless budget

Ogamba said the principal facilitated the adoption of a budget containing “non‑essential and unrealistic expenditure items,” which contributed to the unlawful hike. In a separate communication to the Regional Director of Education Sabina Aroni, the CS noted that the ministry’s Quality Assurance and Standards Directorate had recommended the dissolution of the school’s board of management. found that the board had approved questionable expenditure in the 2025/2026 Financial Year, inflating the budget and burdening parents.

Dubai trip and other flagged expenses

Among the items flagged were Sh1.1 million for moral and spiritual activities, Sh16 million for annual trips, Sh13 million for prize‑giving and speeches, Sh5 million for prize vouchers and sweets, and Sh3 million for airtime and administrative allowances. further highlighted a meeting held on October 16, 2025, where the board approved Sh25 million for a five‑day staff trip to Dubai. The school management was then tasked with bridging a Sh13 million funding gap, a decision the ministry described as reckless and inconsistent with prudent financial management.

Legal violations and next steps

Ogamba stressed that both the principal and the board had failed in their duty to safeguard parents from unnecessary financial strain. be tabled before the County Education Board for consideration and appropriate recommendations. The disciplinary process now rests with the Teachers Service Commission, which will determine the fate of Principal Njeru, while the board faces potential dissolution.

Wider implications for school governance

The case highlights ongoing challenges in Kenya’s education sector regarding fee regulation and financial oversight. The Basic Education Act explicitly requires Cabinet Secretary approval for any fee changes, a safeguard designed to protect parents from arbitrary increases. Alliance Girls High School, one of the country’s top national schools, now faces scrutiny over its financial management and governance practices.

What comes next for parents and students

Parents who paid the inflated fees may seek redress, though no mechanism has been announced yet. The County Education and make recommendations. The outcome of the disciplinary process against Principal Njeru and the board will set a precedent for accountability in Kenya’s secondary schools.

The bottom line

• Principal Margaret Njeru faces disciplinary action for an unauthorised fee hike from Sh53,558 to Sh120,179.
• The school board approved a Sh25 million staff trip to Dubai, creating a Sh13 million funding gap.
• The Quality Assurance and Standards Directorate recommended dissolving the board of management.
• Flagged expenses include Sh16 million for trips and Sh13 million for prize-giving.
• The case underscores the need for strict adherence to the Basic Education Act's fee approval process.
• The Teachers Service Commission will decide on disciplinary measures for the principal.