The Ministry of Education has officially broken its silence on the cost of the Grade 10 transition, unveiling a standardized fee structure designed to eliminate “hidden charges” when the first Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) cohort enters Senior School in January 2026.
Following the release of the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results, Education CS Julius Ogamba confirmed that the government has scrapped the old categorization of schools (National, Extra-County, County). In its place is a new Cluster System (C1–C4) that determines exactly what parents will pay.
The C1–C4 Fee Breakdown: What You Will Pay
Under the new guidelines, all public senior schools have been reclassified. The maximum annual fee for boarding schools is capped at KES 53,554, but many parents will pay significantly less depending on their school’s cluster.
| Cluster | Former School Category | Annual Boarding Fee (KES) | | C1 | National Schools | 53,554 | | C2 | Extra-County Schools | 45,054 | | C3 | County Schools | 40,035 | | C4 | Day Senior Schools | FREE (Tuition) |
Note: For Day Schools (C4), parents are only responsible for lunch and uniform costs, as the government fully subsidizes tuition.
Government Capitation & Subsidies
To keep education affordable, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Free Day Senior Secondary Education program. For every learner in a public senior school, the government will disburse a capitation grant of KES 22,244 annually.
This capitation covers:
- Tuition and learning materials (textbooks).
- Teacher support and administrative costs.
- Co-curricular activities and examinations.
Strict Rules for Principals
The Ministry has issued a stern warning to school heads against introducing “extracurricular” levies. Any school wishing to charge additional fees must obtain written approval from the Cabinet Secretary through the County Education Board (CEB).
Furthermore, schools are prohibited from sending students home for non-payment of boarding fees during the first term, as stipulated in the Basic Education Act. Institutions are also required to announce official fee collection channels primarily digital to ensure transparency.
What Grade 10 Students Will Learn
The 2026 transition also introduces a new academic structure. Learners will take seven subjects, including four core areas: English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, and a new mandatory component Community Service Learning. The remaining three subjects will be determined by the student’s chosen pathway:
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
- Social Sciences (Humanities and Languages)
- Arts and Sports Science
