A new report has revealed the actual fees that parents and guardians will pay for learners transitioning to Grade 10 (Senior School) in January 2026, following the release of the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment (KJSEA) results.
The disclosure comes after the Ministry of Education announced that senior secondary school fees would be standardized across the country.
In guidelines issued on November 4, 2025, the ministry stated that all senior secondary boarding schools would charge an annual uniform fee of Ksh53,554.
However, the latest report clarifies that fees for senior schools will vary based on the new institutional classification, now grouped into C1 to C4 clusters, replacing the former national, extra-county, county and sub-county categories.
Fees Grade 10 learners will pay under C1 to C4 Senior School classification
Under the revised structure, former national schools, now classified as C1 institutions, will charge Ksh53,554 per year.
Extra-county schools, reclassified as C2, will charge Ksh45,054 annually, while County schools, now referred to as C3 institutions, will charge Ksh40,035 per year.
Also Read: Govt Announces Ksh53,000 Fees for All Senior Schools
Learners admitted to C4 schools, previously sub-county schools, will continue to benefit from free secondary education, with no tuition fees payable.
The transition to senior school will officially take place in January 2026, marking a major milestone in the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE).
Learners will undertake a three-year senior school cycle covering Grades 10, 11 and 12. Each learner will study seven subjects, including four compulsory core areas: English, Kiswahili, Core or Essential Mathematics, and Community Service Learning, alongside three elective subjects aligned to individual career pathways.
Senior school learners will attend 40 lessons per week, each lasting 40 minutes. Reporting time will be 8:00 a.m., with lessons running from 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. daily. As part of the transition, schools were earlier directed to introduce a day-wing policy from January 2026.
Also Read: How to Change Grade 10 School Choices Ahead of 2026 Admission
The policy requires at least 10 per cent of learners in boarding schools to be admitted as day scholars, a move aimed at decongesting boarding facilities, expanding access, and supporting a complete transition to senior secondary education.
Capitation and capacity
During the release of the KJSEA results last week, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba reiterated that there had been no revision of boarding fees or any other charges for senior school learners.
“To foster access to basic education, the Government will continue to provide capitation at the approved rate of Ksh22, 244 per learner per year in Senior School. At the same time, we wish to emphasize for the avoidance of doubt that there has been no revision of boarding fees, or any other fees, payable for learners in Senior School. The prevailing guidance from the Ministry of Education on the amounts payable as will continue to apply as has been the case.”
CS Ogamba further noted that Kenya has 9,540 senior schools with a combined capacity of 2.2 million learners.
He said 929,262 learners are expected to exit secondary school after the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) this year, leaving sufficient space in senior schools due to the reduced number of classes at that level.
According to the ministry, the placement exercise began this week and is expected to be completed by December 20, 2025, with Grade 10 learners reporting to their assigned senior schools on January 12, 2026.
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