LITEIN BOYS IN TURMOIL AS PARENTS DEMAND ANSWERS OVER HIGH FINES
There is a storm of controversy as parents of Litein Boys High School in Kericho County have taken the school to court over a massive bill of Ksh69 million.
This bill was imposed on parents as compensation for damages caused during recent student strikes. The school located in Bureti Constituency, Kericho County which has about 1,500 students, charged each parent approximately Ksh49,000 for the damages.
The tension began after the shut down indefinitely due to a violent student strike. The incident left school property damaged and forced the suspension of learning activities.
The Parents Teachers Association (PTA), through their lawyers, is challenging the demand, describing it as excessive and unjustified.
“The first srike parents paid Without questioning. The second, they did the same. This is now the third time, and the pattern is suspicious,” said the PTA lawyer Danstan Omari”
They allege that the school’s Board of Management privately hired a quantity surveyor to assess the destroyed property, initially estimating damages at Ksh99 million before reducing the amount to Ksh69 million, which the PTA still finds inflated. This includes teachers personal properties worth 30 million.
The PTA is now demanding a thorough audit of the damages and a clear breakdown of the funds previously collected from parents after earlier strikes.
They are also questioning the lack of openness, noting that the Ksh69 million amount has not been clearly broken down or explained to them.
“The Ksh69 million has not been itemized. Parents don’t know where this amount is coming from. This is beginning to look like a criminal enterprise”
They accuse the management of potentially exploiting the situation, arguing that government infrastructure funds should cover some of the damages like the burnt dormitory.
Based on their own assessment, parents suggest each student should pay Ksh10,000 instead of the imposed Ksh49,699.
“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 a parent.
Some parents even suspect that the school administration, including the principal, may have played a role in triggering the unrest to justify the high charges imposed on them.
Despite the ongoing tensions, the school has shared a phased reopening plan, allowing students to return gradually between October 9 and 16.
Meanwhile, parents are still waiting for the court’s decision on the fee dispute, which is expected soon.