The Ministry of Education has moved to dismantle the leadership structure at Alliance Girls High School after a damning investigation exposed alleged financial misconduct, unauthorized fee approvals, and questionable spending decisions.
In letters dated April 29, 2026, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migosi Ogamba directed disciplinary action against the Board of Management and Principal Margaret Njeru following a Quality Assurance and Standards Directorate audit conducted on April 28, 2026.
The findings reveal a system that allegedly ignored government regulations, inflated school fees beyond approved limits, and sanctioned questionable expenditures running into millions of shillings.
The report also points to a possible KSh 13 million excess collected from parents, raising serious accountability concerns.
Authorities now recommend dissolving the board under the Basic Education Act, 2013, while also pushing for disciplinary action by the Teachers Service Commission.
Key financial findings from the Ministry investigation
The investigation exposed major discrepancies between government-approved fees and what the school allegedly charged parents.
The approved cap stood at KSh 53,554 per student, yet the board allegedly sanctioned a fee structure of KSh 120,179 for the 2025/2026 financial year. This move alone placed the school at the center of a major compliance breach.
The audit further flagged multiple expenditure decisions that lacked clear justification or appeared inflated. These included high allocations for student trips, prize-giving events, moral and spiritual activities, airtime, and administrative allowances.
One of the most controversial entries involved a proposed KSh 25 million staff trip to Dubai, approved in October 2025 for a five-day program.
The Ministry concluded that these financial decisions created an excess burden on parents and raised questions about governance, transparency, and accountability within the institution.
Breakdown of alleged financial irregularities
| Category | Amount (KSh) | Concern Raised |
|---|---|---|
| Government-approved fee cap | 53,554 per student | Legal benchmark |
| School-approved fees | 120,179 per student | More than double limit |
| Excess collection estimate | ~13,000,000 | Must be corrected |
| Proposed Dubai staff trip | 25,000,000 | Questionable justification |
| Event and activity allocations | Multi-million | Lack of transparency |
The table shows the scale of deviation from approved financial guidelines, highlighting why regulators escalated the matter.
Internal complaints and governance concerns deepen scrutiny
Beyond the official audit, internal complaints from teachers and parents painted a troubling picture of day-to-day operations at the school. Teachers and parents alleged overcrowding in classrooms and overstretched boarding facilities, suggesting that infrastructure did not match student population levels.
They also raised concerns about inflated admissions and alleged revenue-generating student phone services, which critics say may have contributed to unregulated income streams within the school system. Reports further pointed to class sizes exceeding recommended limits, creating pressure on both learning quality and student welfare.
Stakeholders also accused the administration of favoritism in disciplinary matters and highlighted the presence of long-serving board members who allegedly controlled decision-making processes for extended periods.
Critics argued that this structure weakened transparency and limited meaningful oversight. These combined allegations created a broader governance concern that extended beyond finances and into leadership culture and accountability.
Comparison of approved vs alleged spending patterns
Below is a simplified comparison showing how the school’s spending approach allegedly diverged from regulatory expectations.
| Spending Area | Expected Compliance Level | Alleged Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Within government cap | More than double cap |
| Staff development | Budget-controlled | High-cost foreign trip proposal |
| Student welfare | Regulated allocations | Questioned spending priorities |
| Financial transparency | Full disclosure required | Alleged opacity in approvals |
This comparison highlights the gap between policy expectations and reported actions, reinforcing the Ministry’s decision to escalate the matter.
Regulatory response and possible dissolution of the board
The Ministry has directed the Regional Director of Education for the Central Region to forward the findings to the County Education Board for action.
Authorities may now dissolve the Board of Management under the Basic Education Act, 2013, depending on further review of the evidence.
In addition, the Teachers Service Commission has been asked to consider disciplinary action against Principal Margaret Njeru for allegedly presiding over an unauthorized fee structure.
This move signals a possible leadership shake-up at one of the country’s most prominent girls’ schools.
Education officials now face pressure to balance accountability with stability as they determine the final course of action.
The case has also intensified public debate on governance standards in high-performing schools and the level of oversight applied to financial decisions.
As investigations continue, the outcome will likely set a precedent for how authorities handle similar cases involving elite public schools and financial compliance breaches.
