Why School Principals Want Fees Increased by Sh27,000

Kenyan secondary school principals are making a bold demand: an increase in school fees by up to Sh27,000 per student. But is this a necessary lifeline to keep schools running, or an added financial burden that struggling parents can ill afford?

At the heart of the principals’ push is a deepening financial crisis. The Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association (Kessha) argues that government capitation funds have dwindled, leaving institutions on the brink of collapse.

According to Kessha, the Sh22,244 allocated per student annually has not only remained stagnant since 2018 but is also disbursed irregularly and in partial amounts—often falling below half the expected figure.

“The reality is that schools are receiving less than Sh10,479 per student after deductions. Meanwhile, inflation has skyrocketed, and the cost of running schools has become unsustainable,” said Kessha chairperson Willy Kuria.

The Breaking Point:

Many schools, the report reveals, are drowning in debt, unable to pay non-teaching staff, purchase learning materials, or even provide quality meals for students. Co-curricular activities have suffered as well, with institutions cutting back on sporting events due to a lack of funds.

Special needs schools are among the hardest hit, struggling to accommodate learners due to grossly inadequate funding. The report highlights that although special needs students are supposed to receive Sh35,370 in grants, schools only received Sh26,148 in the last financial year, leaving a deficit of Sh9,222 per learner.

The financial strain is even affecting academic performance. Kessha links the rising number of students scoring grade ‘E’ in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams to the funding crisis. Between 2022 and 2025, the number of students in this lowest grade category has shot up by 72%.

“When schools lack resources, performance suffers. We are seeing the consequences in national exam results,” the report states.

Parents’ Dilemma:

The proposal, if approved, would see parents of students in extra-county schools pay an additional Sh27,488 per year, while those in national schools would part with Sh19,628 more. Even parents of day school students, who currently benefit from free tuition, would be required to pay Sh5,372 annually.

This raises a critical question: Can struggling Kenyan families bear this extra cost? With the rising cost of living, an increase in school fees could push many children out of school.

A Government Caught in the Middle

The government finds itself in a precarious position—balancing between ensuring schools remain functional and shielding parents from unbearable costs. While Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has assured principals that the remaining capitation funds for the first term will be released this week, school heads insist this is not enough.

Kessha is now calling for a complete overhaul of the funding model, demanding full disbursement of capitation at the approved rate and a revision of school fees in line with economic realities.