Parents of Kaani Lions Girls Secondary School in Machakos County Camp outside the gates of Kaani Lions demanding for revokation of the transfer of the new Principal brought to the school. Photo by Andrew Mbuva. 
By Andrew Mbuva
Parents of Kaani Lions Girls Secondary School in Machakos County on Monday staged a demonstration opposing the posting of a new principal, citing concerns over her alleged poor performance and mismanagement at her previous school.
The parents marched to the school compound carrying placards and chanting slogans, demanding that the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) revoke the transfer of Ms Ann Maingi, who is set to join Kaani Lions Girls from Muvuti Girls Secondary School. They accused her of presiding over declining enrolment, financial mismanagement and unrest during her tenure at Muvuti.
According to the parents, student numbers at Muvuti Girls reportedly dropped from about 370 to 170 under Ms Maingi’s leadership, with enrolment at one point allegedly falling to as low as 54 students. They argued that such a record raised serious questions about her suitability to lead Kaani Lions Girls, which currently has a population of more than 1,200 students.
“We have parents here whose children were transferred from Muvuti to Kaani Lions because of dissatisfaction with her leadership,” said a parents’ representative during the protest. “If she could not manage a school with fewer than 200 students, how will she manage one with over 1,200?”
The parents further alleged that Ms Maingi left behind a debt of about Sh5 million at Muvuti Girls and presided over repeated student boycotts. They also accused her of locking out students over unpaid fees, incidents that reportedly required police intervention and attracted media attention. Claims of examination irregularities were also raised, with parents questioning her moral authority to head the institution.
Another parent described the posting as “provocative” and warned that it risked destabilising an otherwise stable learning environment at Kaani Lions Girls. “We do not want our school to go to the dogs. We are ready to accept any other option, but not her,” she said.
The parents warned that unless the Ministry of Education and the TSC act swiftly to address their concerns, they will escalate their protests.
The controversy comes as Ms Rebecca Mutinda, the long-serving principal of Kaani Lions Girls, prepares to retire, prompting leadership changes at the school. The protest also reflects growing unease among parents across Machakos County over transfers and appointments of school heads, with calls for greater consultation before such decisions are finalised.
Parents insisted that their grievances must be heard and resolved to safeguard stability and academic standards at Kaani Lions Girls Secondary School.
