Nairobi Schools Struggle With Limited Space for Expanding JSS Classes

Schools in the city are grappling with a shortage of classroom space as the rollout of the junior secondary school (JSS) phase under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) places increasing pressure on facility capacity. Nairobi Members of Parliament, during an inspection on 20 September 2025, warned that some schools in densely‑populated areas are forced to accommodate more than 100 students per class, a situation aggravated by the limited land available for horizontal expansion.
The overcrowding challenge has been longstanding. According to reports from late 2024, about 3,500 new JSS classrooms were 98 % complete, while a further 7,500 were at only 70 % readiness — leaving schools to rely on makeshift solutions. Many Nairobi day‑schools were originally built for smaller student bodies and have struggled to accommodate the new three‑year JSS phase (Grades 7‑9) alongside existing streams. The result: schools converting halls and libraries into classrooms, increasing class sizes and stretching teacher resources thin.
Educators, parents and policymakers alike have voiced concern. Teachers report declining levels of individual attention and increasing management issues; one MP noted that going up (multi‑storey blocks) may be the only viable solution for space‑starved schools. (eastleighvoice.co.ke) Meanwhile, parents fear that the compressed space and heightened teacher workloads will erode the quality of learning, especially in schools located in informal settlement zones. Analysts caution that unless the facility backlog is addressed, the ambitious goals of the JSS expansion risk being undermined by physical constraints.
Looking ahead, Nairobi County and the national Ministry of Education are under pressure to accelerate infrastructure rollout. Plans under discussion include erecting multi‑storey classroom blocks, converting unused school lands, and coordinating funding across constituencies. If these measures are implemented swiftly and equitably, Nairobi’s schools may reverse the current squeeze and create sustainable spaces where the JSS reform can thrive rather than struggle under strain.