New Study Shows Rising Demand for Boarding Schools in Nairobi

A comprehensive 2025 study by the Nairobi Education Research Institute (NERI) has revealed a sharp 68% surge in demand for boarding school placements across Nairobi County since 2022—marking one of the fastest growth trends in Kenya’s basic education sector. Based on data from 142 public and private secondary schools and over 15,000 household surveys, the report attributes this spike to a confluence of urban challenges: rising concerns over learner safety in volatile neighbourhoods, persistent academic underperformance in some day schools post-pandemic, and the logistical realities of dual-income households seeking structured, supervised environments for their children. Notably, elite national schools like Starehe Boys’ Centre and Kenya High reported application increases of 112% and 89% respectively over three years, while county-level boarding institutions such as Lang’ata High and Dagoretti High saw rises exceeding 75%. Significantly, the shift is no longer confined to affluent families: 43% of new boarding applicants in 2025 hailed from informal settlements including Kibera, Mathare, and Mukuru—communities where parents cited gang recruitment risks, long unsafe commutes, and peer pressure as decisive factors. In response, the Nairobi City County Government has fast-tracked a KSh 1.1 billion plan to convert 12 high-performing day schools—including Kayole and Dandora High—into dual-mode institutions with boarding wings by mid-2026. However, equity concerns persist: while public boarding fees remain capped at KSh 25,000 per term, many private institutions now charge upwards of KSh 300,000, pricing out low-income families. The Ministry of Education has announced an expansion of its Vulnerable Groups Bursary Scheme in 2026, targeting 5,000 additional boarding learners from informal settlements. Experts warn that unchecked demand could strain infrastructure and dilute quality—prompting NERI to recommend stricter accreditation standards and mandatory psychosocial support frameworks in all boarding facilities. As one Kibera mother succinctly put it: Boarding isn’t luxury anymore—it’s protection, discipline, and hope.