As Kenyan parents brace for the traditional financial squeeze of January, the government has moved swiftly to quell rising panic over an alleged hike in secondary school fees. With the new academic year looming, the Ministry of Education has categorically ruled out any additional costs for public secondary schools, offering a reprieve to households already grappling with the high cost of living.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba on Wednesday dismissed circulating reports of a KES 9,374 fee increase as “false and misleading.” The CS emphasized that the current fee framework remains strictly in force, ensuring that the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) programme continues to shield parents from tuition costs.

The Official 2026 Fee Structure

To clear the confusion, the Ministry laid out the specific financial obligations for the coming year. For the vast majority of learners in day schools, the government reiterated that tuition is fully subsidized.

According to the breakdown provided by CS Ogamba, the state’s capitation remains set at KES 22,244 per learner annually. This allocation covers all tuition-related expenses, meaning parents of day scholars should not be asked to pay a cent for tuition. However, for those with children in boarding institutions, the ceilings on fees chargeable to parents remain unchanged:

• National & Extra-County Schools (Urban Centres): Capped at KES 53,554 per year.
• Other Boarding Schools: Capped at KES 40,535 per year.
• Special Needs Schools: Capped at KES 12,790 per year.

Anatomy of a Rumor

The anxiety among parents stemmed from the resurfacing of an outdated regulation. The Ministry noted that the confusion arose from Kenya Gazette Notice No. 1555 of 2015, which had previously mandated parents to contribute KES 9,374 alongside a smaller government subsidy.

CS Ogamba clarified that this 2015 arrangement was superseded years ago by the full rollout of the FDSE programme. Under the current regime, that parental burden was absorbed by the state when the capitation was raised to the current KES 22,244 figure.

“The Ministry of Education categorically clarifies that there has been no increase in school fees for public secondary or senior schools,” Ogamba asserted in the statement. He warned school heads against deviating from the authorized fee structures, a recurring issue where some administrators have historically introduced 'remedial' or 'development' levies to bridge funding gaps.

As schools prepare to reopen, the government’s stance provides a clear baseline for parents to challenge unauthorized levies. The focus now shifts to the timely disbursement of these capitation funds, a critical factor in ensuring headteachers can run operations without passing the begging bowl back to parents.