A group of 165 parents from Ambira High School has filed a petition in the High Court, challenging a decision requiring Grade 10 students to pay KSh33,000 each for damages caused during a recent student strike.
The case, lodged before the Constitutional and Human Rights Division, names the school’s Chief Principal, the Board of Management, the Permanent Secretary for Basic Education, and the Teachers Service Commission as respondents.
The parents argue that the levy is unlawful and violates their children’s constitutional rights, including the right to education, fair administrative action, equality, and a fair hearing. They maintain that the affected students were not involved in the unrest and should not be subjected to collective punishment.
According to court documents, the strike occurred on May 18 and 19, 2026, resulting in extensive damage to school infrastructure and student property, and forcing the institution to close indefinitely. During a parents’ meeting held on May 21, the school principal reportedly attributed the unrest to Form Four students who were protesting the suspension of a school captain and demanding examination leakages.
The petitioners state that they were assured during the meeting that Grade 10 students would not face any disciplinary action, as they were not implicated in the strike.
However, in a letter dated May 30, the school directed all students to report back on June 2 and required each learner to contribute KSh33,000 towards repair costs, estimated at KSh50 million. The directive applied to all students, including those in Grade 10.
The parents contend that the decision was made without affording the students an opportunity to be heard and that those unable to pay the levy have effectively been denied access to education.
“The petitioners’ children have been denied entry to school in order to access education,” the court documents state.
The parents are seeking court orders to declare the levy unconstitutional, compel the school to readmit the affected students unconditionally, and award damages for the alleged violation of their rights.
