All Boarding Senior Schools to Charge Uniform Ksh53,000 Fee from January 2026
The government has introduced a uniform annual fee of Ksh53,000 for all boarding senior secondary schools in Kenya. This is a big shift from the long time school based fee system.
In a circular released by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday, November 4, the new fee structure will kick in from January 2026. The ministry said the move is to streamline costs and promote equality among students regardless of the school they attend.
Before, schools used to determine their own fees based on infrastructure and location. The new framework eliminates that and puts all institutions under one standard fee regime.
The ministry also outlined how learning, teaching and administrative functions will work under the new structure. Institutions will now need to get written approval from the Ministry of Education before they can charge extra levies.
All secondary schools will be re-registered as senior schools and categorized as public or private with further distinction between boarding, day and hybrid schools. Each school must provide a detailed fee structure at the beginning of every term showing the breakdown for tuition, boarding and meals.
To enhance transparency, schools will also be required to declare official fee collection channels and communicate payment timelines to parents and guardians in advance.
In terms of academics, Form 1 students will take 7 subjects including core subjects like English, Kiswahili, mathematics and community service learning. Students will select 3 additional subjects from their preferred pathways.
Under the new timetable, students will attend 8 lessons daily, each 40 minutes, with a minimum of 40 lessons per week.
On safety, the government directed boarding schools not to send unaccompanied students home after 9 am. The ministry also directed schools to form audit committees to ensure accountability and proper management of funds.
Officials said the changes are part of ongoing education reforms to enhance uniformity, equity and financial transparency in Kenya’s secondary school system.
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All Boarding Senior Schools to Charge Uniform Ksh53,000 Fee from January 2026