Education CS Julius Ogamba has officially gazetted the new fee structure, abolishing tuition fees for day scholars and capping boarding costs to shield parents from exploitation.

The government has finally moved to end the chaos in the education sector by gazetting a definitive fee structure for Senior Schools in 2026. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has delivered a reprieve to millions of struggling parents: day schooling is now officially free. Under the new guidelines, the state will cover the full tuition and operational costs for day scholars, remitting Sh22,244 directly to schools per learner. This move is designed to ensure 100% transition and retention in the critical Grade 10 year.

For boarding students, the government has imposed strict ceilings to curb the predatory pricing that has defined secondary education. Parents will pay a maximum of Sh53,554 for National and Extra-County schools, and Sh40,535 for other categories. The government will top this up with the standard Sh22,244 capitation. "No public school shall charge tuition fees or any other extra fees," the notice reads, a direct warning to principals who invent "development levies" to fleece parents.

Capping the Greed

This gazette notice is not just a price list; it is a regulatory intervention. By itemizing the costs—Sh4,144 for tuition, Sh1,500 for activities, Sh2,000 for medical—the Ministry is attempting to bring transparency to a notoriously opaque system. The structure essentially locks in the cost of education, preventing schools from adjusting fees to match inflation at the parents' expense.

• Day Scholars: Pay ZERO. The government covers the full Sh22,244 cost.
• Boarders: Parents pay up to Sh53,554. Government pays Sh22,244. Total cost Sh75,798.
• Enforcement: Any variation must be approved by the Cabinet Secretary, closing the loophole for school boards.

A Relief or a Mirage?

While the policy is sound on paper, the challenge lies in the disbursement. Schools are already groaning under the weight of delayed capitation. If the Treasury fails to release the promised Sh22,244 on time, principals will inevitably pass the burden back to the parents, "gazette notice" or not. For now, however, parents can breathe a sigh of relief, armed with a legal document to reject illegal fee hikes.