Kenyan families struggling with the rising cost of education could soon get relief, as Members of Parliament push for sweeping reforms targeting exploitative school uniform practices and unlawful levies that have long burdened parents across the country.

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Lawmakers are backing proposed regulations designed to end what they describe as discriminatory and financially crippling practices embedded in how schools manage uniform procurement and additional charges. The reforms take direct aim at a system that forces parents to buy uniforms from school-designated suppliers, often at inflated prices, and that penalizes children for unpaid non-statutory fees by locking them out of classrooms.

Nyeri Town MP Duncan Mathenge, who sponsored the motion, anchored his argument in Articles 43 and 53 of the Constitution of Kenya, which guarantee equitable access to education and require all decisions affecting children to prioritize their best interests.

“Certain administrative practices in schools, particularly compulsory sourcing of uniforms from designated outlets, are impeding students from learning,” Mathenge stated.

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He argued that the current system directly undermines the constitutional guarantee of free and compulsory basic education – a right that loses meaning when administrative barriers effectively price families out of school.

One of the motion’s central proposals would require schools to allow parents to purchase uniforms from any vendor, provided the attire meets the institution’s approved standards. Supporters say this single change would dismantle what has become an informal cartel system, where designated suppliers face no competition and charge whatever the market will bear.

Lawmakers backing the motion say the uniform pricing problem hits hardest at a time when many Kenyan households are already navigating serious economic hardship, making even modest price relief significant for struggling families.

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara directed sharp criticism at the Ministry of Education, accusing it of standing by while families face exploitation within a system it is meant to regulate.

“The education sector is collapsing. The Ministry of Education is not acting, and parents are suffering economically, ” Kihara argued.

The proposed regulations go beyond uniform reform. They also seek to stop schools from sending students home over unpaid non-statutory fees, including charges tied to school meals, remedial lessons, sports activities, and other optional programs.

📰 Source: NairobiWire Trending