Illegal School Fees in Kenya: Parents Borrow and Sell Assets as Survey Exposes Widespread Levies

Kenyan parents are borrowing money, selling household assets and struggling to keep children in school because of additional charges imposed by some public secondary schools, according to a new education survey.

The findings have renewed questions about the affordability of public education and the enforcement of government-approved school fees.

A survey by the Elimu Bora Working Group found that 98% of households in its sample had paid, expected to pay or anticipated additional charges beyond approved school fees.

The findings were drawn from 388 valid responses across 12 counties.

They therefore provide evidence of serious problems among surveyed households but should not be interpreted as a statistically representative estimate for every family in Kenya.

What parents are paying for

The survey identified several categories of additional charges, including remedial tuition, motivational programmes, school development projects, printing materials and activity fees.

Some schools also collect payments associated with Parent-Teacher Association activities and information technology services.

Not every school charge is necessarily unlawful.

The key issue is whether a particular payment has the required approval and complies with applicable education regulations.

The survey raises concerns that some schools may be demanding payments outside the authorised framework.

For families already managing food, transport and housing costs, these additional expenses can become difficult to meet.

Families pushed into debt

The study found that 61.6% of surveyed households considered the additional levies difficult or impossible to afford.

Nearly 37% reported frequently borrowing money or selling assets to meet the charges.

Such decisions can have lasting consequences for household finances.

A family that sells livestock, farming equipment or another income-generating asset to pay school charges may lose a source of future earnings.

Borrowing can also create repayment obligations long after the school term has ended.

The financial burden is particularly concerning where families believe their children could face exclusion from learning activities if payments are not made.

Parliament questions school spending

The issue comes as parliamentary committees scrutinise financial management in public schools.

In a separate development, MPs warned school principals that they could face personal financial liability for transferring public funds to professional associations without proper legal authority.

The warning followed examination of Auditor-General reports covering several financial years.

The parliamentary concerns involve school expenditure and accountability, while the Elimu Bora survey focuses on charges imposed on households.

Both developments point to the need for transparent financial management in the education sector.

Can learners be excluded over unpaid levies?

Kenya's constitutional and legal framework protects children's right to education.

Schools must operate within applicable government fee policies and cannot assume that any charge becomes lawful merely because it has been communicated to parents.

Families disputing a payment should request a written explanation of the charge and its approval.

Complaints can be raised with school management, the relevant education authorities or other appropriate oversight institutions.

Parents should keep receipts, fee statements and correspondence where disputes arise.

What needs to change?

The findings strengthen calls for clearer publication of approved fees, effective audits and accessible complaint mechanisms.

School administrators also face genuine financial pressures, including rising operating costs and delays in government funding.

But financial constraints do not remove the obligation to account for money collected from parents.

The central question is how Kenya can adequately fund public education without transferring unauthorised costs to families least able to afford them.