The government has finally drawn a line in the sand regarding school fees, gazetting a strict new structure that caps boarding charges and criminalizes the notorious illegal levies that have long burdened Kenyan parents.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has officially gazetted the 2026 Senior School fees structure, effectively ending the era of arbitrary fee hikes by school principals. The new directive, which takes effect on January 5, 2026, is not merely a guideline but a binding legal framework designed to restore sanity to a sector often accused of commercializing the right to knowledge.

For millions of parents grappling with the high cost of living, this gazette notice is a reprieve. It fundamentally shifts the financial load for tuition back to the state, leaving households to cater only for boarding and specific vote heads. The "so what" here is clear: the government is reclaiming control of public education costs, ensuring that the transition to Senior School under the Competency-Based Curriculum does not become a tool for exclusion based on economic status.

Breaking Down the Numbers

The new structure is meticulous in its distribution. For boarding schools, the ceiling has been set at Ksh53,554 per year for Cluster 1 schools, while Cluster 2 schools are capped at Ksh40,535. This figure is inclusive of boarding equipment, stores, and maintenance, with the government stepping in to cover tuition fully through a capitation grant of Ksh22,244 per learner.

In a move to protect the most vulnerable, Day Senior Schools will be entirely tuition-free. Parents with children in these institutions will not pay a single cent for tuition, as the state covers the full Ksh22,244 cost. This is a deliberate equalizer, ensuring that day scholars—often from humbler backgrounds—receive the same quality of education as their boarding counterparts without the crippling financial strain.

• Special Needs Support: The government has allocated a massive Ksh57,974 per learner in Special Needs Schools, with parents paying a subsidized Ksh12,790.
• Payment Spread: Fees must be paid in a 50:30:20 ratio across the three terms, easing the burden of lump-sum payments in January.
• Illegal Levies Banned: Any principal charging above these limits or introducing "remedial" fees faces direct disciplinary action.

The Implementation Matrix

This policy comes at a critical juncture as the first cohort of Grade 9 learners prepares to transition to Senior School. The Ministry of Education has categorized schools into three pathways—Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, and Arts and Sports. The fee structure applies uniformly across these pathways, debunking fears that STEM courses would attract higher user charges.

CS Ogamba was emphatic in his warning to school heads. "No public school shall charge tuition fees or any other extra fees or levies," the notice reads. This firm stance addresses the "hidden costs" that have historically inflated school fees by up to 50 percent in some national schools. The government’s move to peg the fees on a gazette notice gives parents legal standing to refuse payment of unauthorized monies.

However, the success of this directive hinges on the timely release of capitation funds. School heads have previously cited delayed disbursements as the primary driver for passing costs to parents. With the fees now locked by law, the Treasury is under immense pressure to ensure that the Ksh22,244 per student arrives in school accounts before the term begins.

As 2026 approaches, the message from Jogoo House is unequivocal: education is a service, not a business. Parents can now plan their finances with certainty, knowing that the days of "motivation fees" and "infrastructure funds" are legally over.