By James Okoth
The Ministry of Education has firmly dismissed reports alleging that school fees in public secondary schools have been increased by KSh 9,374, terming the claims false and misleading.
In a statement released today, Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba clarified that no changes have been made to the existing school fees structure for public secondary or senior schools. He emphasised that learners in public day secondary schools will continue to pay zero tuition fees, while boarding fees remain unchanged under the existing government framework.
“There has been no increase in school fees for public secondary or senior schools. Claims suggesting otherwise are misleading,” the statement read in part.
According to the Ministry, the legal basis for school fees remains Kenya Gazette Notice No. 1555 of 2015, which set out the original framework for tuition and boarding fees under the Free Day Secondary Education (FDSE) programme. Initially, parents were required to pay KSh 9,374 per learner, while the government contributed KSh 12,870 per learner per year.
However, following the full implementation of FDSE, the government increased its subsidy to KSh 22,244 per learner per year, effectively removing any tuition obligation from parents. This position, the Ministry noted, was later operationalised through a series of circulars reaffirming the government’s full sponsorship of tuition in all public secondary schools.
The Ministry further explained that FDSE covers all learners, including those in boarding schools. Boarding students only pay approved boarding fees, which have remained unchanged since the FDSE Guidelines issued on November 26, 2019.
Under the current framework, boarding schools in major urban centres are permitted to charge up to KSh 53,554, while those in other areas charge up to KSh 40,535. Special Needs Schools are capped at KSh 12,790.
“These amounts have remained unchanged and no school is permitted to exceed them,” the statement reiterated.
Mr Ogamba also dismissed suggestions that the recent transition from the old classification of schools — National, Extra-County, County and Sub-County — to the new cluster system (C1–C4) had introduced new costs. The restructuring, he said, was purely administrative, as recommended by the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform, and had no financial implications for parents.
The Ministry warned that any school found charging unauthorised levies would face firm administrative and disciplinary action. Parents and guardians were encouraged to report such cases to education offices for immediate intervention.
This is the second time the Ministry has issued clarification on the matter, following a similar press release on November 6, 2025, which reaffirmed the government’s commitment to keeping secondary education free and accessible to all.
In his New Year message, the Education Cabinet Secretary extended warm wishes to parents, teachers and students, expressing optimism for a prosperous 2026 and a successful school year.
“Parents, guardians and the public are assured that school fees have not been increased, day scholars pay zero fees, and boarding fees remain unchanged,” the statement concluded.
