There are many cases of public primary schools in Gatundu North charging school fees despite the introduction of free education, an education officer has said.
Deputy education affairs officer in Gatundu North Martin Mwangi said on Monday that pupils from poor backgrounds in the constituency and some from neighbouring sub counties were at risk of failing to get primary education owing to the fees being charged.
"Some head teachers have devised ways of fleecing parents through fees such as examination and co-curriculum activities fees without justification," he said.
"This problem is worrying and might hinder many children from accessing education. Many school heads even go an extra mile to add unavailable developmental arrears, overburdening desperate parents. This must stop," he said.
He called on officials from the Ministry of Education to carry out a thorough probe into fees saga and intervene to cushion parents from the woes.
One of the head teachers, who requested anonymity, confirmed they were charging fees, but was quick to add that the money given to them by the government was inadequate.
"We introduced the additional amounts to cater for board employed teachers and to renovate some aging developments which the CDF has not been able to renovate. My school for example, is only charging Sh3,200 for every student annually," he said.
When reached for comment, the area education director Joel Irungu said any fees charged in public primary schools were illegal.
He promised to send his team to schools suspected to be charging fees contrary to government policies for action to be taken against head teachers found culpable.