Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has firmly dismissed claims by Ndindi Nyoro that the government plans to increase school fees for public day and senior secondary learners by KSh 9,374 ahead of the 2026 academic year, calling such reports “false and misleading.”
The controversy erupted after Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro alleged that the Ministry of Education had quietly factored in an additional KSh 9,374 per learner in the school fee structure a move he said would undermine the progress made under Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) and place extra financial strain on parents already coping with rising living costs.
In response, CS Ogamba explained that the figure cited by Nyoro originates from Kenya Gazette Notice No. 1555 of 2015, which initially outlined a shared cost framework requiring parents to contribute KSh 9,374 per year for day secondary students while the government provided a subsidy.
However, with the full implementation of FDSE, the government increased capitation to KSh 22,244 per learner annually, effectively eliminating any tuition obligation for parents.
Ogamba reiterated that under the current policy, public day secondary and C4 day senior school learners continue to pay zero tuition fees, and no directive has been issued to increase these charges.
He also clarified that boarding fees remain unchanged within the approved ceilings up to KSh 53,554 for schools in major urban centres and up to KSh 40,535 in other areas.
To address lingering concerns, the ministry urged parents and guardians to rely on official joining instructions and report any unauthorised levies imposed by schools, warning that such actions would attract administrative and disciplinary action.
The clarification aims to reassure Kenyans that the government remains committed to accessible and affordable education even as the country transitions to the senior school phase under the Competency‑Based Education system.
