By Cally Imbayi
Parents of Kakamega High School have protested the Sh21.6 million fine slapped on them by the school management for renovation of a dormitory that was razed down by learners on November 6.
Through a formal letter to the school BOM, the parents complained against the penalty terming it outrageous and way above their expectations.
The letter written by a select committee of the school Parents Association (PA) representatives questioned the formula in which the school management arrived at the total cost imposed on them and insists that it was unrealistic.
The letter says parents need to be appraised with what really happened on the material day as they argued that the board settled on the amount without consultation.
“There is urgent need to call the PA representatives to appreciate what exactly took place. This will enable parents to be on the same page with other stakeholders and be able to own the outcome of mitigation intervention being put in place.
Parents should be told the exact number of students who were affected since we are aware that not everything on the floor was damaged,” the letter reads in part.
In the letter addressed to the BOM chairman Mr. Egara Kabaji the parents also questioned the damage assessment process wondering whether it was carried out by a competent professional as they called for a second opinion over the same.
The parents also want the school administration to share with their representatives the CCTV footages given that the school has heavily invested on the system.
They also demanded to be provided with the breakdown of the Sh21.6 million they were being called upon to pay.
“Our resolution is that before our sons report back to school we request the BOM to meet PA representatives to address the issues we have raised,” the letter that was signed by the PA select committee; the Secretary Consolata Achieng, Dr. Jairus Odawa, Chairman and Alfred Mang’ula, a member stated.
Suggesting that the school management and security should bear some of the fines, they held that the liability of damages was wrongly placed on them.
Earlier, the school board through its secretary who is the school Principal had issue a notice asking parents to collectively pay Sh21.6 million before students are allowed back to school. Each student is to pay Sh9823.00 to cater for the costs of repairing the damages.
Could the fires be out of fatigue? Our students are having busy terms and a week for holiday. This means their brains are overwhelmed. Also, parents should teach their sons and daughters to be patient, burning of schools is just a generational curse that they’ll all pay for.