- Several headteachers have alleged that Sub-County Education officers are demanding up to Sh4,000 to approve RMI files
- Headteachers have also alleged being forced to pay activity fees in Term One and Term Two without an authorising circular from the Principal Secretary for Education.
- The affected administrators have appealed to MoE to investigate the claims and issue clear circulars on permitted payments and RMI approval procedures.
School heads across the country are up in arms over alleged demands by Sub-County Education officers for payments to approve Repair, Maintenance and Improvement (RMI) fees.
Education News has received complaints from several headteachers who, speaking on condition of anonymity, allege that they are being forced to part with up to Sh4,000 to have their RMI files approved. The headteachers claim the alleged payments have become an additional burden, particularly for schools with small enrolments that receive relatively little capitation.
According to the affected administrators, some are being left with no option but to dig into their own pockets to meet the alleged demands, despite already struggling to run schools with limited resources.
“Our school population is very small. Sometimes the money we receive is hardly enough to meet the needs of the learners. When we are expected to find additional money just to have an RMI file approved, it becomes extremely difficult,” one headteacher said.
The complaints do not end with RMI files. The headteachers further allege that they are being forced to pay activity fees during Term One and Term Two, despite, according to them, having received no circular from the Principal Secretary for Education authorising such payments.
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The administrators say the situation is creating confusion at school level, as they are expected to meet demands from education offices while at the same time ensuring their schools comply with official Ministry of Education guidelines.
Several headteachers say the mounting pressure from education offices is making headship positions increasingly stressful, with some administrators feeling caught between meeting demands from their superiors and protecting themselves from financial and administrative liabilities.
“Being a headteacher is becoming very stressful. We are expected to deliver results, but there is also pressure from the office to meet various demands. At times, we are forced to use our own money because the school does not have enough resources,” another administrator said.
The complaints have raised questions about the administration of RMI funds and other school-related levies, and whether headteachers are being subjected to unofficial financial demands in the course of running public institutions. The complainants are appealing to the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education to intervene and investigate the matter, calling for clear communication through official circulars on what payments schools are permitted to collect and what procedures headteachers should follow when seeking approval of RMI files. They are also calling for protection from unofficial financial demands, saying school heads should not be placed in a position where they have to choose between complying with verbal instructions and risking disciplinary or financial consequences.
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The allegations have not been independently verified, and the affected education officials have not been allowed to respond to the specific claims. Education News understands that the matter requires official clarification from the Ministry of Education.
The headteachers are urging the Ministry leadership to move swiftly, establish the facts and provide clear guidance to school administrators, saying that for institutions already operating on tight budgets, every shilling should be directed toward improving the learning environment rather than meeting payments whose official basis remains unclear.
By Our Field Reporter
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