The ministry of Education has announced a transformative new fee structure for all public senior schools in Kenya, set to significantly influence how parents prepare for secondary education starting in 2026.
This updated fee structure officially nullifies Gazette Notice No. 1555 of 2015, modernizing a nearly decade-old policy to address inflation and increasing operational costs.
Effective January 5, 2026, the revised framework applies to students enrolled in both the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the outgoing 8-4-4 system. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba formalized these changes through a Gazette notice dated February 6, 2026.
The new fee structure, grounded in the Basic Education Act of 2013, aims to standardize fees nationwide, enhance transparency, and prevent arbitrary charges by schools.
In a significant shift, the new policy eliminates fees for learners in public day senior schools, relieving parents of any financial obligations for day scholars. The government will cover Ksh22,244 per student annually, which encompasses Ksh4,144 for tuition, Ksh1,500 for co-curricular activities, Ksh2,000 for medical care and insurance, and Ksh200 for SMASSE.
Furthermore, additional funding will support administration, learning materials, utilities, and physical education, with Ksh9,400 allocated for these purposes, alongside Ksh5,000 designated for maintenance and improvement. This initiative effectively renders education at public day senior schools free, alleviating financial strain on families and promoting access to secondary education.
For boarding senior schools, the cost structure will be a shared responsibility between parents and the government, with fees varying according to each school’s previously approved maximum rates. In institutions where fees were previously capped at Ksh53,554, parents will continue to contribute the same amount, while the government will add Ksh22,244, resulting in a total cost of Ksh75,798 per student.
Similarly, schools that had a fee ceiling of Ksh40,535 will maintain that parental contribution, augmented by the government’s allocation of Ksh22,244, culminating in a total of Ksh62,779 per student. These boarding fees will cover boarding equipment, maintenance, administration, and extracurricular activities. Importantly, parents will not be responsible for costs related to teaching materials, medical care, or SMASSE, as these will be fully funded by the government.
In terms of support for learners in special needs senior schools, the new structure offers increased government assistance. Parents will contribute Ksh12,790 per student, while the government will provide Ksh57,974, resulting in a total annual cost of Ksh70,764. Parental contributions will be limited to Ksh10,790 for boarding equipment and stores, and Ksh2,000 for maintenance and improvement, with the remainder allocated for specialized teaching materials and facilities for students with disabilities.
CS Ogamba has issued a stern warning to school administrators against imposing any additional charges outside the approved framework, emphasizing that no public school may levy tuition fees or any other extra fees contrary to the established fee structure. “No public school shall charge tuition fees or any other extra fees or levies contrary to the fee structure stipulated hereinabove,” he stated.
Schools that currently charge below the approved ceilings are encouraged to maintain their existing rates. Additionally, all fees will be payable across the three school terms in a 50:30:20 ratio to alleviate financial pressure on parents.
This new framework provides essential clarity, predictability, and fairness in school financing, with any future modifications requiring approval from the Cabinet Secretary and subsequent publication in the Gazette.
