The Teachers Service Commission (TSC) has formally issued a show cause notice to the principal of Alliance Girls High School, escalating disciplinary action over the controversial fee hike that has triggered national outrage.
The move follows findings by the Ministry of Education that the school implemented an unauthorised fee structure, raising annual charges from the approved Sh53,558 to over Sh120,000 without the required approval.
In a letter dated April 29, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba directed TSC to take action against the principal, citing breach of the law and failure to comply with government policy under the Basic Education Act.
The commission has now moved to require the school head to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken, a process that could lead to sanctions ranging from a warning to interdiction or dismissal if misconduct is established.
Investigations by the ministry’s Quality Assurance team revealed that the fee increase was tied to an inflated school budget containing what officials described as non-essential and unrealistic expenditures.
Among the items flagged were millions of shillings spent on activities considered outside core learning, including trips, ceremonies and administrative costs.
The report also raised serious concerns about governance at the school, noting that the Board of Management approved the controversial budget that ultimately pushed fees beyond legal limits.
As a result, the government has recommended the dissolution of the board, putting the entire leadership structure of the institution under scrutiny.
According to the Ministry of Education, the move to raise fees without approval directly contravenes Section 29 of the Basic Education Act, which requires any changes to public school fees to be sanctioned by the Cabinet Secretary.
“The unauthorised fees structure was imposed without approval… and is therefore contrary to the law,” the ministry stated in its findings.
Officials say the decision not only placed an unfair financial burden on parents, but also undermined public confidence in the management of one of Kenya’s top national schools.
Alliance Girls, founded in 1948 and widely regarded as one of the country’s most prestigious public institutions, is now at the centre of a wider debate on rising costs in Kenya’s education system.
Parents across the country have increasingly complained about hidden levies and unauthorised charges in public schools, especially in top-performing national institutions.
The Alliance case has now become a test for the government’s resolve to enforce fee guidelines and restore discipline in school financial management.
With the show cause notice issued, the matter now shifts to TSC’s disciplinary process, where the principal will be required to respond to the allegations.
The outcome could set a major precedent, not just for Alliance Girls, but for school heads across the country accused of bypassing regulations.
