Motorists plying Nairobi-Kangundo Road faced significant disruptions on Monday as a group of irate parents and pupils from Koma Ranch Primary and Junior School staged a protest at Mutalia.

The demonstrators took to the road, blocking traffic with stones, bonfires and marching while carrying placards that called for the removal of the school's headteacher.

Their message was clear: "Shape up or ship out."

Police swiftly arrived at the scene in an attempt to manage the chaos and control the flow of traffic, but the protests continued to block the vital route, leaving many commuters frustrated.

Commuters were forced to use the Old Kangundo Road to cover the distance between Mutalia and Joska.

Read More

  1. Equity unveils Joska branch, expanding its footprint to 212 locations nationwide
  2. Commuters stranded, long trek home as gridlock grips Kangundo Road - PHOTOS
  3. Sleuths recover over Sh10 million worth of stolen cooking appliances in Nairobi

The unrest stems from allegations that the school is imposing illegal fees on students transitioning from Grade Six to Grade Seven.

Despite clear guidelines from the Ministry of Education stating that no such fees should be levied, parents claim the school is charging a Sh5,000 fee for admission into junior school, along with other additional costs.

The issue became more pressing on Friday when several pupils were reportedly sent home for failing to pay the fees.

One parent, clearly distressed, revealed the frustration of trying to address the matter with the Ministry of Education.

"We have repeatedly tried to address this issue with the Ministry of Education but no action has been taken. Friday, our children were sent home, which is unacceptable given the ministry’s clear directive that no fees should be charged," the parent stated.

This has led parents to organise a peaceful demonstration, set to take place on Monday, to demand accountability from the school's leadership.

"This is to inform all parents of Koma Ranch Primary and Junior School that on Monday, there will be a peaceful demonstration to voice our concerns and ensure our children’s education is not disrupted," another parent said.

The school’s headteacher,  Augustine Mawathe, has refuted the allegations, attributing the protest to tribalism and personal grievances.

"I’m retiring this year," Mawathe remarked. "I can assure you, this has something to do with tribalism."

She also expressed her intentions to meet with parents to discuss the development of the school, particularly the construction of a kitchen for the learners.

"We will call the parents to a meeting to discuss the development of the school, especially the construction of the kitchen for the learners," she added.

Despite the protests, she asserted that most parents have not raised concerns about her leadership.

As the tension between parents and school authorities continues to rise, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold in the coming days.

The protest has brought the issue of fee charges to the forefront, igniting a fierce debate over the interpretation and enforcement of the Ministry of Education’s guidelines.