Government dismisses reports of boarding fee increase in public senior schools
The ministry’s clarification follows widespread reports indicating that senior boarding schools would begin charging a uniform annual fee of Sh53,554 under new guidelines.
The Ministry of Education has dismissed reports suggesting an upward revision of boarding fees in public senior schools, affirming that the current rates remain unchanged.
In a statement released on November 6, 2025, Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba clarified that there has been “no revision of boarding fees, or any other fees, payable by learners” in public senior schools. He emphasised that the existing fee structures will continue to apply as previously guided by the ministry.
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“Our attention has been drawn to reports in sections of the media to the effect that boarding fees payable by learners in public senior schools have been revised upwards,” the statement read in part. “Parents, learners and the general public are hereby notified that there has been no revision of boarding fees, or any other fees.”
The ministry’s clarification follows widespread reports indicating that senior boarding schools would begin charging a uniform annual fee of Sh53,554 under new guidelines purportedly aimed at enhancing fairness, transparency, and accountability in school finances, while easing the financial burden on parents.
CS Ogamba reiterated that the government remains committed to fulfilling its constitutional duty of providing capitation for learners in senior school.
"The Government will continue to fulfil its constitutional duty of providing capitation for learners in senior school. The approved rate of capitation for this level of education remains Sh22,244 per learner per year," the CS said.
The clarification comes as the education sector gears up for a major transition in January 2026, when about one million Grade 9 learners are expected to join senior school under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
Kenya’s 9,000 public secondary schools have been reorganised into four clusters—C1, C2, C3, and C4—replacing the former national, extra-county, county, and sub-county classifications.
According to the new structure, C1 schools will offer all three CBC pathways, while the other clusters will provide fewer options depending on their capacity and resources.
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