Boarding Schools Struggle with Rising Utility Bills
Principals and Boards of Management (BoM) in Kenya are concerned about the high cost of electricity and water bills in their schools. To combat this, some schools have installed solar panels and drilled boreholes to reduce costs.
However, bills are expected to increase in the next three years if a proposal by Kenya Power to increase energy charge tariffs is approved by the Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The Mbeere North Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) is among those expressing concern, with Morris Nthíga, a representative, saying that high bills are affecting many schools.
For example, St Bhakita Siakago Girls, the only national school in Mbeere, spends Sh135,000 on power bills and a minimum of Sh150,000 on water.
Principal Ann Mwangangi has called on the area MP and the Water CS to help with sinking boreholes and improving the water catchment around the school.
In Meru county, Meru School and Igembe Boys are paying about Sh200,000 each in monthly electricity bills, which the schools find challenging.
Igembe Boys Principal Lawrence Mutembei has urged the government to assist public schools in paying the bills to reduce the financial burden.
Meru School Principal Mwenda Ruteere has said the school has sunk a borehole and pays about Sh15,000 monthly for water.
St Mary’s Igoji Principal Isabellah Wainaina has expressed concern about the cost of electricity, which could cripple operations in most boarding schools.
Njiri Boys High School Principal Gibson Mwangi has said they have stopped relying on piped water by enhancing the harvesting of rainwater and pumping water from a nearby stream.
The school is suffering due to a monthly electric bill of Sh373,000, which may force them to shelve some operations.
At Chania Boys High School, Principal James Gitau has said he is looking for Sh250,000 to pay the January electricity bill, adding that the school has a borehole after finding the water bills too high.
At Ichagaki Mixed Secondary School, Principal Andrew Maina has said the electricity bills have been escalating, and the BoM is considering shifting to green energy. The school has been issued with an Sh75,000 electricity bill, and a month ago they paid Sh65,000.
Boarding Schools Struggle with Rising Utility Bills
