The National Education Board Chairpersons Forum, led by Prof. Okumu Bigambo has condemned what it terms as “blatant interference” by sponsors in the appointment of school heads, warning that the practice erodes professionalism and undermines government authority.
The alarm follows a clash at Kisumu Day Boys High School, where the sponsor church has rejected a principal deployed by the TSC, insisting on its own choice of leadership.
“If we allow sponsors to determine who heads which school, as it is happening now, we are creating a disaster,” Prof. Bigambo told journalists. “We are ending up with principals whose loyalty lies with sponsors rather than the government.”
He stressed that sponsors must respect the statutory mandate of the TSC, which is solely responsible for teacher recruitment and deployment. “Sponsors should appreciate professionalism and quality service, not loyalty. Some sponsors are quite unaware of the dynamics in education and education management,” he added.
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The forum warned that unchecked interference risks plunging schools into leadership crises nationwide, citing similar disputes in other counties. “This is not just a Kisumu issue, it is a nationwide outcry,” Prof. Bigambo emphasized.
The role of sponsors, often religious institutions, has long been contentious. While the law grants them a voice in the running of schools, their powers are largely advisory, leaving TSC as the ultimate authority. Recent clashes, however, have exposed a growing power struggle that threatens stability in schools.
Education stakeholders are now calling on the Ministry of Education to step in and mediate before the standoff worsens.
By Godfrey Wamalwa
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