Over a million Kenyan families are caught between celebration and anxiety as their children, the pioneers of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), prepare to join senior secondary school next month.

The core of this uncertainty stems from conflicting government directives on school fees for the 1.1 million learners who recently received their Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results. This has left parents in the dark about the true financial burden, threatening a smooth transition into Grade 10 which begins on January 12, 2026.

Ministry's Mixed Signals on Costs

In November, the Ministry of Education announced a standardized annual fee of KES 53,554 for all public boarding senior schools, a move intended to eliminate the previous categorization of schools and curb illegal levies. However, this directive, which referenced a 2015 gazette notice, caused widespread confusion as it seemed to contradict the current capitation model.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba later sought to reassure the public, stating that fees would remain unchanged and that the government's capitation of KES 22,244 per learner would continue. "The fact that we have changed the name [of school categories] does not change the fees," Ogamba emphasized during the release of the KJSEA results on December 11, 2025.

Parents Fear Hidden Levies

Despite these assurances, parents' associations remain skeptical, warning that the standardized fee figure could open the door for schools to charge extra for various items. Many fear a repeat of past challenges where families were burdened with additional costs not covered by the official fee structure. These often include:

• Pathway-specific learning materials for STEM, Arts & Sports, or Social Sciences.
• Uniforms and personal effects.
• Boarding-related equipment and supplies.
• Mandatory school development projects approved by Parents' Associations.

The National Parents Association has called for extensive public participation to prevent a situation where children are forced out of school due to an inability to pay. School heads have also voiced concern, noting that a simultaneous reduction in government capitation per learner from KES 22,244 to KES 12,870 could strain school operations, forcing them to pass on costs to parents.

As the January admission deadline looms, the critical question remains: will the Ministry provide a clear, itemized fee structure that protects parents, or will the fees puzzle become an insurmountable barrier to education for thousands of deserving learners?