A legal dispute is emerging at Ambira High School in Ugunja Sub-county after parents of Grade 10 students enlisted legal representation to challenge a KSh 33,000 fine imposed on each learner following a recent wave of student unrest.
The contentious charge stems from violent disturbances that erupted at the school on May 19, 2026, resulting in extensive damage to the principalβs office, computer laboratories, and dormitories. The incident forced the institution to close indefinitely as authorities assessed the extent of the destruction.
Through J.C. Mwangi & Co. Advocates, the parents have issued a formal demand letter to Chief Principal Boaz Adit, questioning the legality and justification of the levy. In the letter dated June 1, the parents accuse the school administration of subjecting their children to unlawful collective punishment.
According to the parents, school officials assured stakeholders during a meeting held on May 21, 2026, that Grade 10 students would not be required to contribute towards repair costs, as they were not implicated in the unrest. They now want an explanation for what they describe as a sudden reversal of that position.
Ambira parents demand answers over fine
The legal notice demands that the school provide a detailed justification for the fine, including a comprehensive and itemized breakdown of the damages incurred and the methodology used to arrive at the KSh 33,000 charge per student.
In addition, the parents are seeking verifiable evidence linking Grade 10 learners to the acts of vandalism and arson. They have also requested a status report on personal belongings reportedly lost by students during the hurried evacuation that followed the disturbances.
The parents further argue that the unrest was not merely an act of student indiscipline but a consequence of unresolved welfare concerns and broader disciplinary challenges that they claim the administration failed to address in time.
With students continuing to lose valuable learning time due to the prolonged closure of the school, the parents maintain that they will not pay the imposed fine until the institution provides transparency, accountability, and satisfactory answers regarding the circumstances surrounding the levy.
