Concerns have been raised over allegations that Maseno High School principal has secretly increased school fees against the government guidelines.
The troubled principal is seen to be courting trouble with the no-nonsense Education CS George Magoha following claims of dirty tricks employed to increase school fees at the old school.
According to multiple sources the school, principal Andrew Buop recently convened a parents’ day meeting that left tongues wagging after the occasion was turned into a platform to hike school.
Buop who is fighting a tainted past following his style of leadership was the architect of a plan that may likely put him under the scrutiny of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission and the ministry of Education.
EACC boss Twalib Mbarak
To make it appear as if the decision was a brainchild of the parents themselves, those in the know said that the principal hosted some parents perceived to be influential and communicated to them his agenda prior to the meeting day.
The said parents, ostensibly on his payroll strategically positioned themselves in every corner and their work was to maddeningly shout in support to the principal proposal for higher fees.
Despite warnings from CS Magoha against principals increasing school fees ahead of opening, sources told Weekly Citizen that Buop managed to outsmart innocent parents by approving additional fees, now haunting him.
Speaking at Kenyatta University where Equity Group was unveiling this year’s Wings to Fly scholarship beneficiaries, the CS told principals to adhere to the fee guidelines as indicated by the ministry adding those who violate the directive will face consequences.
Buop denied the allegations and in an SMS to this writer stated that the school only charges authorised amount and those complaining should challenge by proof if they use a different fee structure from that provided by the ministry of Education.
CS Magoha
It is a common knowledge that principals across the country have devised clever ways to increase fees after the government issued a standard package.
The government recommended fees is Sh53,554 but some crooked principals have blatantly defied the orders and devised ways to increase fees adding more burden to parents.
One of the tricks being used to swindle parents of their hardearned cash is through publishing fees structure for one term as opposed to the whole year, which is the requirement by the government.
For Maseno High School a section of parents are concerned following what appears to be a back to back negative news since Buop controversially joined the school from Homa Bay High school.
In 2017, Maseno school board of management grudgingly resigned following the replacement of former principal Paul Otula by Buop.
The board made up of 10 members, expressed disregard for the newly-recruited principal claiming he had a tainted past.
Otula was sent on a compulsory leave after a Form One student was allegedly sodomised by students.
This caused Maseno students to boycott classes demanding Otula be reinstated.
Board chairman Carey Orege said investigations over the sodomy claims were carried out in a crude manner
