Classrooms fall silent as Chemelil Sugar Academy dispute keeps 500 students at home

Parents accuse Chemelil Sugar Company of failing to address their concerns, particularly regarding staff terminations and significant salary reductions.

According to Fredrick Otieno, chairperson of the Parents’ Association, the meeting with management offered no meaningful answers.

“The company failed to address the issues we raised during the special meeting, so we are going to file the petition by Monday at the latest,” he said.

The parents claim that all staff members were issued with new contracts that came with salary cuts of up to 50 per cent, while new employees were outsourced through a third-party firm.

“The company outsourced staff through a third-party company. This has severely affected the morale of both teaching and non-teaching staff,” Dr Otieno added.

They further allege that all school personnel were terminated on November 1, 2025, in the middle of the KCSE examination period. Management reportedly informed staff that they were surplus to requirements but could reapply through interviews scheduled for January 2026.

Only a minimal number of staff were temporarily retained to supervise the ongoing examinations.

According to the parents, the crisis began after the dissolution of Chemelil Sugar Company Limited on October 31, 2025, and its replacement by Chemelil Sugar Company 2025 Limited under a lease arrangement between the Kenyan government and the Chatthe Group.

However, these claims have been firmly rejected by Chemelil Sugar Company 2025 Limited.

“The management onboarded all teachers required for continued operations, with the exception of one teacher who, upon advice from parents and based on documented performance concerns, was not considered,” Mr Jacob Jagero, the company’s head of corporate affairs, said in an interview with Nation.

He explained that following the termination of employment contracts by the defunct company, the new management assumed control of all facilities, including the academy, in line with the lease agreement.

“Upon takeover, the new management immediately put mechanisms in place to ensure there was no disruption to school operations, particularly during the 2025 KCSE examination period. All required resources were available, and teachers were retained specifically to ensure the continuity and integrity of the examinations,” he said.

"Necessary adjustments"

Management maintains that the KCSE examinations were conducted successfully and without disruption. Mr Jagero added that new employment contracts took effect on December 1, were duly signed by staff, and that December salaries were paid by January 6.

“I believe no teacher would have signed any contract if payments were not being made,” he said.

On the issue of salary reductions, management said the adjustments were necessary.

“While basic salaries were retained, certain allowances, such as commuter allowances, were removed because teachers were allocated housing within the school compound,” Mr Jagero explained.

He further claimed that approximately 30 per cent of individuals representing the Parents’ Association are not parents of students at the academy.

“We are questioning on what basis the Parents’ Association believes it can manage a school that belongs to a private entity, Chemelil Sugar Company, now leased to Chemelil Sugar Company 2025,” he said.

Management insists that the association has overstepped its mandate by making decisions that conflict with existing laws and governance structures.

“We feel there are external forces influencing the Parents’ Association,” Mr Jagero added, suggesting that interests beyond genuine parental concern may be driving the dispute.

As the standoff drags on, classrooms remain empty, and uncertainty hangs heavily over the academy, with students bearing the brunt of a conflict yet to find resolution.

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