MoE gazettes new senior school fees structure for 2026

The Ministry of Education, (MoE) has officially released the new fee structure for all public senior schools aimed at removing additional levies and eliminating widespread confusion among parents and learners that has been witnessed in past few weeks.

In a gazette notice published on February 6, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the new fee structure applies to all public senior schools under both the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system and the 8-4-4 system.

The new structure which took effect on January 5, 2026 is designed to standardise school fees across the country, ensure transparency, and protect parents from arbitrary or excessive charges.

It applies to all Day Senior Schools, Boarding Senior Schools under two cost categories, and Special Needs Schools.

According to the CS the government will fully cater for all approved fees, for day senior schools meaning parents will not be required to pay any charges, by covering Ksh4,144 for tuition per student, activity fee Ksh1,500, medical and insurance (Ksh2,000) and SMASSE (Ksh200).

Other vote heads include administration, L&T, EWC and P.E (Ksh9,400) while maintenance and improvement (Ksh5,000).

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The total cost per student in day schools will be Ksh22,244, all  this will be covered by government contributions, this makes schooling free at the day school level.

For boarding senior schools, the fees vary depending on the school’s previously approved maximum rates.

For boarding senior schools, parents will contribute towards boarding-related expenses, while the government continues to fund tuition and other key academic costs, the fees will vary in connection with the  school’s previously approved maximum rates.

Boarding schools that were previously  authorized  to charge a maximum of ksh53,554, the total annual fee  has been raised to Ksh75,798, under the new structure, the government will cover Ksh 22,244, with parents contributing the remaining Ksh 53,554.

For schools with a previous maximum of Ksh40, 535, parental fees will now be Ksh40, 535, complemented by the same government contribution of Ksh22, 244 bringing total to Ksh62, 779.

Tuition will fully  be funded by the government ,parents will cover Ksh25,385 for boarding equipment and stores, Ksh12,900 for other vote heads, Ksh250 for activity fees, and Ksh2,000 for maintenance and improvement.

The ministry also published fee structure for senior schools for learners with special needs.

The total annual cost per learner is Ksh70, 764, with the government covering Ksh57,974 and parents contributing Ksh12,790.

The cost includes Ksh4,144 for tuition, Ksh23,220 for boarding equipment and stores, Ksh5,000 for maintenance and improvement, Ksh9,400 for other vote heads, Ksh1,500 for activity fees, Ksh2,000 for medical and insurance, Ksh12,510 top-up support, and Ksh200 for SMASSE.

The notice also clarified that all schools are expected to spread fees over the three school terms at a ratio of 50:30:20.

By Obegi Malack