By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 1 January 2026 - The government has moved to calm growing anxiety among parents by firmly dismissing claims that public secondary school fees will rise in 2026, insisting that no new charges have been approved or introduced.
In a statement issued on December 31, the Ministry of Education described reports of a KSh 9,374 increase as false and misleading, warning that the misinformation had caused unnecessary panic at a time when families are preparing for a new academic year.
The clarification followed public remarks by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who alleged that school heads had quietly received instructions to raise fees, accusing the government of shifting the burden of education costs to parents without consultation. His comments quickly gained traction, fuelling confusion across the country.
However, the Ministry maintained that learners in public day secondary schools and C4 day senior schools will continue to pay no fees under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) programme. According to the Education Cabinet Secretary, the government remains fully responsible for tuition costs and currently provides KSh 22,244 per learner annually to cover learning-related expenses.
“At no point has the Ministry directed County Directors of Education or school principals to increase fees,” the statement said, adding that any school found levying unauthorised charges would face disciplinary action.
Officials explained that the misunderstanding stems from a 2015 Kenya Gazette notice that outlined a cost-sharing framework between parents and the state.
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While the notice indicated a parental contribution of KSh 9,374 at the time, later Ministry circulars operationalised the policy by confirming full government funding of tuition, effectively removing any financial obligation from parents in day schools.
For boarding schools, the Ministry stressed that existing fee structures remain unchanged. Boarding schools in major urban centres may charge up to KSh 53,554, while other boarding institutions charge KSh 40,535. Special Needs Schools continue to charge KSh 12,790.
The Ministry also dismissed concerns that the transition from the former national and county school categories to the new C1–C4 cluster system would introduce fresh costs, clarifying that the change is administrative and does not affect fees.
Parents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any cases of unauthorised levies to education offices for swift intervention, as the government reiterated its commitment to keeping basic education accessible and affordable for all Kenyan learners.
