The gazetted fees
These come from the Ministry of Education's gazette notice dated 6 February 2026, which took effect from 5 January 2026 and replaced the 2015 structure. They apply to every public senior school, for learners in Grade 10 under CBC and for the last 8-4-4 classes.
| School type | Parents pay a year | Government pays | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day senior school | KES 0 | KES 22,244 | KES 22,244 |
| Boarding, higher cap | up to KES 53,554 | KES 22,244 | KES 75,798 |
| Boarding, lower cap | up to KES 40,535 | KES 22,244 | KES 62,779 |
| Special needs school | KES 12,790 | KES 57,974 | KES 70,764 |
Which boarding cap applies depends on the maximum the school was allowed to charge before. The school's fee structure, sent with the admission letter, tells you which one it is.
What you pay each term
The notice tells schools to spread fees over the three terms at 50%, 30% and 20%.
| Annual fee | Term 1 (50%) | Term 2 (30%) | Term 3 (20%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| KES 53,554 | KES 26,777 | KES 16,066 | KES 10,711 |
| KES 40,535 | KES 20,268 | KES 12,160 | KES 8,107 |
| KES 12,790 (special needs) | KES 6,395 | KES 3,837 | KES 2,558 |
We rounded each term to the shilling so the three add back to the year. Your school's fee statement may round differently by a shilling or two.
What the government's KES 22,244 covers
- Tuition: KES 4,144
- Administration, learning and teaching materials, electricity, water and conservancy, and PE: KES 9,400
- Maintenance and improvement: KES 5,000
- Medical and insurance: KES 2,000
- Activity: KES 1,500
- SMASSE: KES 200
For a special needs school, the parent's KES 12,790 is boarding equipment and stores (KES 10,790) and maintenance and improvement (KES 2,000).
Extra charges
The notice says no public school may charge tuition or any other extra fees or levies outside this structure, and that any change has to be approved by the Cabinet Secretary and gazetted. Uniform and shopping-list items are separate from fees. Early in 2026 the CS told schools to accept old uniforms for Grade 10 and asked parents to report principals who force them to buy from particular shops.
How to pay the school
- Use the account on the school's official fee structure, usually the school's bank account through the bank's M-PESA paybill.
- Put the learner's admission number, or the reference the school asks for, in the account field. See how to pay a paybill.
- Check the name M-PESA shows before you enter your PIN. It should be the school or its bank.
- Keep the confirmation SMS and get a receipt from the school's bursar.
You do not have to pay through eCitizen. The High Court struck down the order to pay school fees only through eCitizen, and its KES 50 convenience fee, on 1 April 2025, and the Court of Appeal refused to suspend that judgment in November 2025.
Will fees change for January 2027?
Not yet. On 12 November 2026, President Ruto told the Ministry of Education and the TSC to review capitation upwards and send him a report by January 2027, before schools reopen. That is the money the government pays per learner, currently KES 22,244 for senior school. What parents pay only changes if a new gazette notice is published. We will update this page if one is.
Questions people ask
How much is Grade 10 school fees in a public school?
Nothing at a public day senior school: the government pays KES 22,244 per learner. At a public boarding school, parents pay at most KES 53,554 a year, or KES 40,535 at schools that were on the lower cap.
How much do I pay in first term?
Half of the year's fee. That is KES 26,777 at a KES 53,554 school and KES 20,268 at a KES 40,535 school. Second term is 30% and third term 20%.
Can a public school charge more than the gazetted fee?
No. The February 2026 gazette notice says no public school may charge tuition or any other extra fees or levies outside the gazetted structure.
Do I have to pay school fees through eCitizen?
No. The High Court struck down the order to pay school fees only through eCitizen, and the KES 50 convenience fee, in April 2025, and the Court of Appeal refused to suspend that ruling in November 2025. Pay the account on your school's fee structure.
Will fees change for January 2027?
Not so far. On 12 November 2026 President Ruto ordered a review of capitation, with a report due by January 2027. The parent caps only change if a new gazette notice is published.
Related
- Grade 10 placement 2027: check by SMS 22263
- KCSE results 2026: SMS 20076 and the KNEC portal
- How schools collect fees on M-PESA
- Paybill charges calculator
Sources
- The Star, 9 February 2026: the gazette notice of 6 February 2026 and its figures.
- Kenyans.co.ke, 12 November 2026: the capitation review ordered by President Ruto.
- Citizen Digital, 21 November 2025: Court of Appeal on eCitizen school fee payments.