Africa-Press – Kenya. The Ministry of Education has officially released the new fee structure for all public senior schools in Kenya, marking a significant step in implementing the Basic Education Act, 2013.
The fees, which apply to learners under both the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and the 8-4-4 system, took effect on January 5, 2026.
The announcement, made through a Gazette notice dated February 6, 2026, was signed by Cabinet Secretary for Education, Julius Ogamba.
The new structure, Ogamba emphasised, is designed to standardise school fees across the country, ensure transparency, and protect parents from arbitrary or excessive charges.
Under the revised framework, day senior schools will no longer require parents to pay any fee for their children, with the government covering Sh4,144 for tuition per student.
Additional government funding will cater to activity 1,500, medical and insurance (Sh2,000) and SMASSE (Sh200).
Other vote heads include administration, L&T, EWC and P.E (Sh9,400) while maintenance and improvement (Sh5,000).
The total cost per student in day schools will be Sh22,244, all covered by government contributions, effectively making schooling free at the day school level.
For boarding senior schools, the fees vary depending on the school’s previously approved maximum rates.
In schools that were previously allowed to charge a maximum of Sh53,554, the total amount has been raised to Sh75,798, with parents expected to pay up to Sh53,554, while the government contributes Sh22,244.
For schools with a previous maximum of Sh40,535, parental fees will now be Sh40,535, complemented by the same government contribution of Sh22,244 bringing total to Sh62,779.
The boarding fees cover various vote heads including teaching and learning materials, boarding equipment and stores, maintenance and improvement, administrative costs, extracurricular activities, medical and insurance, and SMASSE.
Parents, however, do not pay for teaching and learning materials, medical and insurance and SMASSE.
Boarding fees for boarding students fully paid by parents range from Sh30, 385 to Sh25,385 depending on the school category.
Special needs schools will also benefit from the revised structure.
Parents will be required to pay Sh12,790 while the government contributes Sh57,974 per student, bringing the total to Sh70,764.
These fees cover specialised resources for learners with disabilities, including boarding equipment, top-up allowances, teaching materials, and maintenance.
Parents only pay for boarding equipment and stores, which is Sh10,790 and maintenance and improvement (Sh2,000).
Ogamba has warned schools against charging extra fees other than the stipulated ones.
“No public school shall charge tuition fees or any other extra fees or levies contrary to the fee structure stipulated hereinabove,” he said.
Schools charging below the foregoing ceilings are encouraged to maintain their rates, Ogamba said.
The notice also clarified that all schools are expected to spread fees over the three school terms at a ratio of 50:30:20.
The new fees structure revokes Gazette Notice No. 1555 of 2015, effectively updating nearly a decade of policy and adjusting for inflation and increased school operational costs.
The new fee structure is set to provide the much-needed clarity and predictability for planning family budgets.
This new framework will now ensure uniformity and fairness across all public senior schools.
“Any future variations shall be approved by the Cabinet Secretary and gazetted accordingly,” reads the notice.
