PARENTS DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY AND HALT TO FEE HIKE AT PARKLANDS BAPTIST SCHOOL.
Nairobi, November 6, 2025 — By Aoma Keziah.
Tensions are mounting at Parklands Baptist School after parents protested a proposed 20 percent increase in school fees for the 2025–2026 academic year, accusing the administration of unilateral decision-making and lack of transparency.
During a tense parents’ meeting on Tuesday, families expressed outrage that the Board of Management (BoM) had imposed the hike without consultation or justification. The board’s failure to attend the meeting or send a representative further fueled frustrations among parents already grappling with economic pressures.
“We were informed of the 20 percent fee hike toward the end of the term, without any consultation. Families are already struggling, and such a decision is inconsiderate,” said Ms. Doreen, a mother of four enrolled at the school.
Parents decried the school’s persistent failure to establish a Parents and Teachers Association (PTA), a legal requirement under Kenya’s Basic Education Act of 2013, saying this has deprived them of a platform for engagement.
“For over a decade, we’ve pushed for a PTA, but the board and school administration have shown no goodwill,” lamented Mr. Mbaya, one of the parent representatives.
Other parents, including Dr. Mumo, urged the administration to embrace transparency and financial accountability, citing mismanagement concerns. “We understand operational costs have risen, but there must be openness. The board should discuss these challenges and explore sustainable solutions. For instance, the school could invest in its own swimming pool instead of paying millions for external lessons,” he suggested.
He further called for the separation of the church and school administration, warning that overlapping management roles have blurred accountability. “The church should play an oversight role, not run school operations. Without clear boundaries, funds risk being misused,” he said.
Parents’ representatives, led by Mr. Mburu, chairperson of class representatives, accused the BoM of ignoring calls for dialogue. “In three years, the board has not met parents. They issue memos instead of explanations, and most of them don’t even have children in the school,” he said.
Concerns also extended to deteriorating infrastructure, poor meal quality, and limited learning resources. “Students lack proper dining spaces, and the labs are barely functional. The quality of education and extracurricular activities has dropped sharply,” added Mr. Mburu.
The parents are now demanding a forensic audit of the school’s finances over the past three years before any fee increment is implemented. They have also appealed to the Parklands Baptist Church leadership to intervene by convening an Annual General Meeting (AGM) and reconstituting the Board of Management.
“Our message is simple,” said Mr. Mbaya. “Halt the fee increment, engage parents, and embrace transparency. We want the school to prosper — but with accountability.”
