High Absenteeism Recorded in Nairobi Schools After Fee Increases

A sharp rise in absenteeism has been recorded in Nairobi schools following significant increases in secondary school fees introduced in 2025. Parents and school administrators across the city have raised concerns that the new fee structure—announced by the Ministry of Education in October—has made it difficult for many families to keep their children in school consistently.
Under the revised guidelines, fees for National Schools rose from Ksh 53,554 to Ksh 73,182, while County and Extra County Schools saw an increase from Ksh 40,535 to Ksh 66,023. Even learners in Day Schools, who previously only paid for lunch programs, are now required to contribute an additional Ksh 5,372 annually. The government cited inflation and rising commodity prices as reasons for the adjustments, but many households—already grappling with economic hardship—have struggled to meet the new demands.
In Nairobi’s Umoja Estate, some parents have opted to transfer their children to less expensive schools or keep them at home temporarily. We simply can’t afford it anymore, said William Momanyi, a father of two who has pulled his children from the school they’ve attended for five years. Education stakeholders warn that unless urgent interventions are made—such as increased bursary allocations or fee waivers for vulnerable families—dropout rates could rise, undermining gains made in access to education.