Government sets annual standard fee of Sh 53,554 for all public senior boarding schools

Nairobi, Kenya — The Ministry of Education has issued new guidelines establishing a uniform annual fee of KSh 53,554 for learners in public boarding senior secondary schools.
Under the reform, all public senior schools will be re-registered under a single classification (as either boarding, day or hybrid) — removing the previous categories (national, extra‑county, county, sub‑county) that had differing fee levels.The changes are scheduled to take effect from January 2026.
Key points of the policy:
Boarding senior schools will charge the standard annual fee of KSh 53,554 (or approximately KSh 53,000 in rounded communication) for all seniors in boarding public schools.
Any additional levies or fees beyond this amount must be requested in writing and approved by the Cabinet Secretary through the County Education Board.
Schools are required to publish comprehensive fee schedules at the start of each term, detailing tuition, boarding, meals and other charges; they must also designate official payment channels.
Government clarification & parental concerns:
Although the guidelines specify the uniform fee, the Ministry emphasised that no immediate increase in boarding fees has been enacted ahead of January 2026, urging parents not to pay more than what is already officially payable.
Many parents, however, are concerned this new standard may translate into much higher costs — especially for learners currently in county or sub‑county boarding schools which had previously charged lower fees. The shift therefore raises worries about affordability and equity.
Implications:
For families: This may mean budgeting for significantly higher costs if their child transitions to a boarding senior school under the new structure.
For schools: Institutions will need to align to the uniform fee, adhere strictly to the guidelines, and avoid imposing unapproved levies.
For policy: The move seeks to simplify and standardise fees across the public senior school sector in line with the rollout of the new senior school structure under the Competency‑Based Curriculum.