Parents of Litein High School in Kericho County have raised alarm over what they describe as a recurring pattern of strikes followed by hefty and unexplained levies imposed on them by the school management.
Speaking through their lawyers Danstan Omari, Shadrach Wambui, and Sam Nyaberi, the parents questioned why the school has witnessed three separate strikes within a short period, each incident resulting in new financial demands from the administration.
According to the parents, every time unrest occurs, the school management asks them to pay large sums of money for alleged repairs. In the latest case, each student has reportedly been directed to pay Ksh.49,000 to cover damages from the most recent strike.
“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 concerned parent.
The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) has now demanded a comprehensive audit of all funds collected after previous strikes and a detailed inventory of the property said to have been destroyed. Some parents have even accused certain teachers of using their children to extort money from them.
The concerns come two weeks after the latest unrest at the institution, during which students went on a rampage, burning classrooms and vandalizing offices. Eight students were arrested following the chaos, and the school was closed indefinitely.
Reports indicate the students were protesting against the alleged high-handedness of the school principal.
While condemning the destruction of property, Education Principal Secretary Julius Bitok warned students against acts of indiscipline and urged education officers to monitor schools more closely.
Parents, however, insist that the administration must also be held accountable, noting that Litein High School has experienced four major incidents of vandalism in the last three years, with similar closures in 2021 and 2023.
They now want the Ministry of Education to investigate the school management, saying the recurring chaos could be a cover for financial mismanagement.
