A dispute has emerged at Ambira Boys High School after 165 parents went to court seeking to block a directive requiring Grade 10 students to pay Ksh.33,000 for damage linked to a recent student strike.

Through a petition lodged at the Constitutional and Human Rights Division, the parents argue that their children should not be held responsible for destruction that occurred during unrest reported on May 18 and 19, 2026.

“The affected learners did not take part in the incident and should therefore not be penalised,” they said .

Named in the case are the school’s Chief Principal, the Board of Management, the Principal Secretary for Basic Education and the Teachers Service Commission.

The parents claim the levy infringes on several constitutional protections, including the right to education, fair administrative action, equality and the right to a fair hearing.

Court papers indicate that the school suffered extensive destruction during the unrest, with estimated losses reaching about Ksh.50 million.

The petitioners also refer to a parents’ meeting held on May 21, where they say the principal assured them that Grade 10 students would not face sanctions since they were not involved.

Tension arose after the school later issued a notice instructing learners to return on June 2 and demanding the payment of Ksh.33,000 per student to help fund repairs.

According to the parents, those unable to meet the requirement have since been prevented from resuming classes, effectively denying them access to learning.

The group is now asking the court to declare the levy illegal, order unconditional readmission of the students affected, and grant relief for what they describe as a violation of their rights.

The case is expected to test the limits of school disciplinary measures following large-scale unrest, particularly where collective penalties are imposed on students who may not have participated in the incident.