School Exploitative Business of Fees and Uniforms
According to an article in the Nation, many schools in Kenya are forcing parents to buy uniforms from specific suppliers at prices that have become increasingly unreasonable.
The problem is so significant that many families need help to keep up with the costs, leading to a situation where the cost of uniforms sometimes exceeds the cost of tuition.
Despite numerous warnings from the government, schools have continued to force parents to buy uniforms from specific suppliers. Some schools have charged as much as KES 29,895 for a complete set of uniforms.
This has seen billions of shillings move from parents’ pockets to the bank accounts of a select few companies.
The Nation surveyed 12 schools from different counties where parents with children in Form One were asked to provide information about the cost of uniforms.
In all, these parents paid KES 114 million for uniforms. The cheapest uniform from Matuga Girls High School and Kisii High School cost KES 14,000.
Meanwhile, Mary Hill Girls High School in Kiambu County charged parents KES 29,895 for a complete set of uniforms, making it the most expensive of the 12 schools surveyed.
Other schools that asked parents to buy uniforms from specific suppliers included Nyangwa High School in Embu County (Weaver Bird Garments) and Kenya High School in Nairobi County (School Outfitters).
Public schools have been able to get around potential punishment by the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) by exploiting a loophole in the law.
Section 9 of the CAK Act that came into force in 2012 only allows the authority an advisory role when dealing with government bodies, which includes public schools.
It cannot, therefore, fine or impose other punishments on public schools that flout competition laws by colluding with suppliers.
In response to this, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has tabled a motion in the National Assembly seeking to standardize the uniform production and distribution process, a move that could bring to an end the practice that is causing parents so much hardship.
Ms. Wamuchomba seeks to regulate uniform quality and costs and allow tailors and other fabric dealers to participate in production, bringing down prices while spreading revenue among more players.
All eyes will now be on the MP, who is expected to sponsor a Bill on the issue.
School Exploitative Business of Fees and Uniforms
