By Wambua Love in Mbooni
Parents of Usalala Secondary School in Mbooni East, Makueni County, are calling on the Ministry of Education to urgently investigate the school’s leadership, citing allegations of mismanagement, intimidation, and exclusion of key stakeholders.
In a press briefing on Monday, concerned parents accused the school’s principal of misappropriating school funds and sidelining the Board of Management in critical decision-making processes. They further alleged that the headteacher uses abusive and sarcastic language when addressing them, creating a hostile environment for engagement.
“We feel disrespected and ignored. The principal runs the school like a personal enterprise, and we are never consulted on key issues, including how money is spent,” said one parent.
The situation has escalated with parents claiming the principal has been using local authorities to intimidate those who raise concerns about his leadership. The threats, they say, have silenced many and stifled open dialogue on how the school is run.
The aggrieved parents have issued a three-week ultimatum to the Ministry of Education to take action, warning that they will withdraw their children from the school and close it down if no intervention is made.
“This school belongs to the community, not an individual. If nothing is done in three weeks, we will take matters into our own hands,” said another parent during the meeting.
The controversy at Usalala Secondary School reflects a growing trend of discontent among parents in Mbooni and other parts of Makueni County, where concerns about leadership and financial accountability in public schools have been on the rise.
Stakeholders are now calling on education officials to undertake a broader audit of school governance in the region to ensure transparency, accountability, and effective management in public learning institutions.
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