NAIROBI - A landmark policy shift by the Kenyan government to standardize boarding school fees at KSh 53,554 per year, set to take effect in January 2026, has ignited a national debate on the accessibility and affordability of education. While the Ministry of Education touts the move as a step towards fairness by eliminating the previous categorization of schools based on infrastructure and location, parents and education stakeholders are raising concerns that the dream of a boarding school education is fast becoming a preserve for the wealthy.

The new fee structure will apply to all public senior secondary schools, which will be re-registered as senior schools and classified on the same level. This is a significant departure from the old system where national, extra-county, and county schools had varying fee structures. According to the Ministry's guidelines, the standardized fee is based on a 2015 gazette notice. The government will continue to provide a capitation of KSh 22,244 per student annually to actualize Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE).

The Unseen Costs: A Heavy Burden on Parents

Despite the set fee, Kenyan households face a barrage of additional expenses, often referred to as "hidden costs," which significantly inflate the cost of education. Research indicates that these hidden costs, which include expenses for school uniforms, admission requirements, personal effects, and motivation fees, have a statistically negative correlation with students' transition rates in public boarding schools. A study on public boarding schools in Uasin Gishu County found that hidden educational expenditures could account for up to 36.5% of the variance in student transition rates, with the cost of uniforms being the most significant contributor. These extra charges, coupled with the rising cost of living, place an immense strain on families, with many forced to take out loans to cover educational expenses.

The National Parents Association (NPA) has urged school heads to adhere strictly to the government's fee guidelines and to give parents ample time to make payments, acknowledging the harsh economic conditions. However, teachers' unions argue that delayed and insufficient government capitation often forces schools to levy additional charges to cover operational costs. The Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) has warned that without these parental contributions, schools struggle to provide basic services like food, water, and electricity.

The Great Divide: Public vs. Private Education

The financial pressures in the public school system are further highlighted when compared to the costs of private education. While the government aims to standardize fees in public institutions, the private sector presents a starkly different reality. Elite international schools in Nairobi charge fees that can exceed KSh 4.5 million annually. For instance, the International School of Kenya (ISK) has tuition fees for the 2024/2025 academic year that can reach these high figures, while Brookhouse School's fees range from KSh 390,000 to KSh 4.3 million. Even local private schools, which are a popular alternative for parents seeking better-resourced institutions, charge significantly more than their public counterparts, with termly fees often ranging between KSh 20,000 and KSh 40,000, excluding other costs.

This disparity creates a two-tiered education system where access to well-funded and equipped boarding schools is increasingly determined by a family's income. While the government's move to standardize public school fees is intended to create a more equitable system, the reality of hidden costs and the high price of private alternatives suggests that for many Kenyans, a boarding school education remains an elusive dream. The transition to the new fee structure in 2026 will be a critical test of the government's commitment to providing affordable and quality education for all. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED into the detailed breakdown of the KSh 53,554 fee and the average cost of local private boarding schools to fully assess the policy's impact.