Nairobi Parents Decry Rising Cost of School Uniforms

As the new school year begins, parents in Nairobi are facing mounting pressure from soaring school uniform prices. Retailers in the city’s Central Business District have reported price hikes of 11 % to 18 % on key items—such as a pair of primary school shorts rising to KSh 710 from KSh 640, and sweaters climbing to around KSh 1,195 from KSh 1,140. These increases exclude additional costs like shoes and sportswear, pushing the full uniform budget well beyond KSh 10,000 for many families.
The dramatic rise in uniform costs comes amid broader inflationary pressures, but parents argue that the increases are disproportionate and poorly justified. One parents’ group leader described the situation as a back-to-school shocker, noting that while production costs have indeed risen, the final cost passed to families seems inflated. Some schools have also directed parents to purchase exclusively from specific suppliers, limiting competition and potentially driving up prices further.
Reactions across Nairobi’s school-going community have been critical. Many parents in informal settlements expressed concern that the high cost of uniforms may force them to delay school reporting or settle for sub-par options. School administrators acknowledged the problem — while some defended the higher costs citing premium fabrics and climate-appropriate designs, parent-teacher forums urged immediate intervention. Education stakeholders warned that if uniform costs aren’t controlled, the policy of free or affordable basic education could be undermined by hidden back-to-school expenses.
Looking ahead, advocacy groups are calling on the Kenya National Parents Association and the Ministry of Education to enforce guidelines that prevent schools from prescribing exclusive suppliers, and to introduce caps or standard designs to reduce cost burdens. The Ministry has already issued a directive banning schools from forcing parents to buy uniforms from specific merchants. Should these measures gain traction, Nairobi could ease the uniform cost burden for families and prevent the rising prices from becoming a barrier to access in the city’s education system.