Kenya’s “Elite” International Schools: World-Class Education at Premium Prices

As global and local demand for premium education continues to rise, Nairobi and its environs host some of the most expensive schools in East Africa, with annual tuition at the top end reaching into the millions of Kenyan shillings for senior years. These figures illustrate how elite education has become a distinctive — and costly — choice for affluent families. 

The Cost Leaders

1. International School of Kenya (ISK), Nairobi – Widely cited as Kenya’s most expensive school, senior students have annual tuition that can approach KES 4.7 million (c. US $36,600), making it competitive with some top international fees worldwide. The school also charges a significant one-time capital levy for new students on top of tuition. 

2. Peponi School, Nairobi – Based on the British curriculum, Peponi’s boarding tuition for senior grades totals over KES 3.65 million per year, excluding refundable deposits and one-off charges. 

3. Brookhouse School (Karen & Runda) – A long-standing British curriculum school with day and boarding options. Fees for boarding students in upper secondary can reach around KES 2.27 million per term, placing annual costs close to or above KES 3 million depending on the year group and boarding status. 

4. Braeburn School, Garden Estate – Annual tuition for senior students sits in the range of approximately KES 2.55 million, making the school one of the more costly IB/British options in Nairobi. 

5. St. Andrew’s School, Turi (Nakuru) – Traditionally listed among Kenya’s expensive schools; while exact 2026 figures vary by source, historic data and rankings place senior year fees well into the millions of shillings per year. 

Context and Critiques

• Nairobi remains the regional hub for high-end international schooling, with annual fees at some institutions eclipsing KES 4 million for senior students — rivaling costs in global education centres. 

• Criticism centres on affordability: In a country where the average household budget and formal wages are far lower than these fees, the cost of elite international education is often out of reach for most families. However, proponents argue that it delivers global curricula, advanced facilities and international networks that can open doors to universities and careers abroad. 

• One-off charges, deposits and levies — such as capital levies or refundable caution deposits — add further to the total cost beyond stated tuition figures. 

What This Means for Families

For the country’s wealthiest households, premium schooling is seen not just as an education investment but as social and professional capital — one that can yield international opportunities, university placements overseas and lifelong networks. For the majority of Kenyans, however, the price tags on these institutions — often exceeding KES 3 million per year for secondary education — remain aspirational rather than attainable.