Nairobi Schools Face Pressure as Enrollment Numbers Rise Sharply

Schools across Nairobi County are grappling with rising student numbers, prompting urgent calls for expansion of infrastructure and staffing. On December 12, 2024, officials announced a new plan to build 5,000 additional classrooms in Nairobi’s primary schools, backed by a Sh1 billion national-government allocation, to help schools absorb the swell of learners.
The surge in enrollment comes amid broader systemic changes that have impacted class sizes and school capacities. For instance, in January 2024 several Nairobi secondary-school principals reported admitting as many as 600 Form 1 students—an increase of 40–50% compared to previous years—citing the growth in candidates and pressure on space and resources. Further data from the 2025 Economic Survey shows that student enrollment in primary and junior schools rose by 3.2 per cent to 10.73 million, while secondary school enrollment increased by 5.2 per cent to 4.32 million, even as education recurrent spending declined.Schools say they are already converting halls into classrooms, increasing class streams and buying more furniture, but many warn that efforts remain insufficient for the pace of growth.
Parents, teachers and policymakers are voicing concern over the implications of this growth. Teachers highlight that larger class sizes strain their capacity to provide individualised instruction, while parents worry the quality of education may suffer. One Nairobi principal acknowledged that despite preparing for 600 new learners, each class would still average 60 students, highlighting the emerging gap in learning conditions. Education analysts warn that unless infrastructure and staffing scale up commensurately, Nairobi’s schools risk facing a decline in learning outcomes, irrespective of access.
Looking ahead, the county government has embarked on a phased rollout of new classrooms, with an emphasis on high-density areas and Nairobi’s informal settlements. The plan includes seeking additional funding through constituency development funds and public-private partnerships to accelerate construction. Should the implementation keep pace with enrollment trends, Nairobi’s schools may avert a crisis of congestion and maintain readiness for the surge of learners entering JSS and secondary levels. If not, both access and quality may be compromised.