Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Deputy Executive Director Cornelius Oduor highlighted the disproportionate impact of illegal levies on day-school students during a press briefing by the Elimu Bora Working Group (EBWG) on October 6, 2026. The survey, released at Four Points by Sheraton Hurlingham in Nairobi, found that 64.9% of day-school learners face exclusion from classes when families cannot pay unauthorized fees, compared to 40.5% in boarding schools. Oduor emphasized that these levies, often imposed by school administrators, violate national education policies and exacerbate inequality in access to public schooling.
The EBWG’s findings underscore a systemic issue in Kenya’s public education sector, where families are compelled to pay informal charges under the guise of 'voluntary contributions' or 'school development fees.' These levies, which the Auditor-General has condemned as misuse of taxpayer funds, disproportionately affect low-income households. The survey also revealed that high school heads have been funneling millions to Kessha, a private entity, under the pretense of subscription fees, a practice the Auditor-General explicitly prohibited, stating that public secondary institutions should not allocate public resources for such purposes.
Public interest advocates warn that the enforcement of illegal levies undermines the constitutional right to free and compulsory education. The KHRC and EBWG have called for urgent policy reforms to dismantle these financial barriers, citing that over two-thirds of day-school students are effectively excluded from learning due to unregulated fees. The findings have intensified pressure on the Ministry of Education to investigate and hold accountable schools and officials involved in collecting unauthorized charges, with critics arguing that such practices deepen educational disparities and erode public trust in the system.
The survey’s release coincides with growing scrutiny of financial mismanagement in public schools, as the Auditor-General’s office continues to audit institutions for compliance with fiscal regulations. KHRC and EBWG have pledged to monitor implementation of recommendations aimed at ensuring transparency and equitable access to education, while urging parents to report instances of illegal levies to local authorities. The issue remains a focal point for civil society groups advocating for accountability in Kenya’s education sector.