Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has announced a new Senior School fees framework aimed at streamlining charges and enforcing compliance as the country implements the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
In a Kenya Gazette notice dated January 12, 2026, the Ministry of Education outlined the approved fees structure for all public senior schools, clearly spelling out government capitation, parental contributions, and the maximum amounts institutions are allowed to charge.
The framework, issued under the Basic Education Act, applies to Day Senior Schools, Boarding Senior Schools under two cost clusters, and Special Needs Senior Schools.
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According to the notice, the new fees structure took effect on January 5, 2026, with schools required to spread fees across the three school terms in the ratio of 50:30:20.
Day Senior Schools: Fully Government-Funded
Under the new framework, students enrolled in Day Senior Schools will enjoy free education, with the government covering the full cost of Ksh22,244 per learner annually. Parents will not be required to pay any fees.
The government capitation covers tuition (Ksh4,144), activity fees (Ksh1,500), medical and insurance (Ksh2,000), SMASSE (Ksh200), administration and other vote heads (Ksh9,400), and maintenance and improvement (Ksh5,000).
Boarding Senior Schools
For Boarding Senior Schools previously approved to charge a maximum of Ksh53,554, the government will provide Ksh22,244 per learner, while parents will contribute up to Ksh53,554. This brings the total annual cost to Ksh75,798 per student.
In this category, parents will mainly cater for boarding equipment and stores (Ksh30,385), other vote heads including administration and electricity (Ksh20,371), activity fees (Ksh798), and part of maintenance and improvement (Ksh2,000). Tuition remains fully funded by the government.
Boarding Senior Schools previously capped at Ksh40,535 will continue to receive Ksh22,244 from the government, with parents paying up to Ksh40,535, resulting in a total annual cost of Ksh62,779 per learner.
Special Needs Senior Schools
Special Needs Senior Schools will receive the highest government support. The State will provide Ksh57,974 per learner annually, while parents will contribute Ksh12,790, bringing the total fees to Ksh70,764.
The capitation for these schools includes tuition (Ksh4,144), boarding equipment and stores (Ksh23,220), maintenance and improvement (Ksh5,000), other vote heads (Ksh9,400), activity fees (Ksh1,500), medical and insurance (Ksh2,000), top-up support (Ksh12,510), and SMASSE (Ksh200).
Strict Compliance Required
CS Ogamba emphasized that no public school is permitted to charge tuition fees or impose extra levies outside the approved structure. Schools currently charging below the stipulated ceilings were encouraged to maintain their lower rates.
“No public school shall charge tuition fees or any other extra fees or levies contrary to the fees structure stipulated hereinabove. Schools charging below the foregoing ceilings are encouraged to maintain their rates,” the notice states.
Any future adjustments to the fees framework must receive approval from the Education Cabinet Secretary and be formally published in the Kenya Gazette. The new notice also revokes Gazette Notice No. 1555 of 2025.
The Ministry says the move is intended to bring clarity, protect parents from arbitrary charges, and ensure uniform implementation of the CBE system across the country.