The Ministry of Education (MoE) has firmly denied claims that school fees for public secondary and senior schools have been increased, assuring parents and guardians that the Government’s Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) policy remains fully in force.
In a press statement released on December 31, 2025, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba described reports alleging an increase of KSh 9,374 in school fees as false, misleading, and unsupported by law or policy. He emphasized that no public secondary or senior school has been authorized to raise fees.
The Cabinet Secretary explained that the confusion stems from Kenya Gazette Notice No. 1555 of 2015, which initially set the framework for school fees. At the time, parents of learners in public day secondary schools were required to contribute KSh 9,374 per learner per year, while the Government provided KSh 12,870. However, following the full implementation of FDSE, the Government substantially increased its annual capitation to KSh 22,244 per learner, effectively eliminating tuition costs for parents.
According to the Ministry, subsequent circulars formally operationalised the Gazette Notice by affirming that FDSE applies to all learners in public secondary schools, including both day scholars and boarders. Under this framework, day scholars pay zero school fees, while boarding learners are only required to pay approved boarding charges.
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On boarding fees, CS Ogamba clarified that there has been no change in the approved ceilings. Boarding schools located in major urban centres are permitted to charge up to KSh 53,554, while all other boarding schools may charge up to KSh 40,535. Special Needs Schools are capped at KSh 12,790 per learner annually. Any school exceeding these limits will face administrative and disciplinary action.
The Ministry also addressed concerns surrounding the transition from the former classification of National, Extra-County, County, and Sub-County schools to the C1–C4 cluster system, noting that the change is purely structural and does not introduce any new fees.
CS Ogamba reiterated that the Ministry has not issued any directive to increase fees and urged parents to report any unauthorized levies. He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to affordable and accessible education for all learners
By Philip Koech
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