International school fees in Nairobi, 2026

The Nairobi fees landscape in 2026

Nairobi has around 35 international schools serving an English-medium curriculum, with around 10 to 12 representing the working shortlist for relocating expat families. The 2026 fee picture stretches from roughly KES 400,000 (USD 3,100) per year at the lowest credible Kenyan-British curriculum tier through to KES 3.3 million (USD 25,500) per year at the premium tier flagships. Most expat families on a multinational education allowance land between KES 1.2 million and KES 2.6 million (USD 9,300 to USD 20,100) per child for the working international tier.

The Kenyan shilling has been broadly stable against the US dollar through 2025 and into 2026, which removes some of the currency uncertainty families faced during the 2022 to 2024 shilling weakness. Most premium schools quote and bill in USD or peg fee changes to a USD reference, which provides expat families on USD-denominated packages with predictable budgeting. Mid-tier and value-tier schools usually quote in KES, with annual fee changes that have averaged 4 to 7 per cent for 2026 to 2027. The Nairobi city guide sets the broader expat picture, and our best schools ranking covers academic quality alongside cost.

Three tiers of Nairobi international schools

Three clear tiers exist in 2026, separated by curriculum recognition, university outcomes, faculty depth and physical infrastructure. Fees correlate closely with tier.

Premium tier. Brookhouse School (Karen and Runda), International School of Kenya (ISK), Peponi School, St Andrew's Turi, Aga Khan Academy Nairobi, and the strongest Braeburn campuses. Senior-year tuition KES 1.8 million to KES 3.3 million per year (USD 13,900 to USD 25,500). These schools draw the strongest faculty, post the strongest university destinations and operate the best-resourced campuses. The default tier for senior multinational packages with full education allowance.

Mid tier. Hillcrest International School, GEMS Cambridge International School, Crawford International School Tatu City, Banda School (prep only), Braeburn Garden Estate (senior years), and several smaller dual-curriculum schools. Senior-year tuition KES 1.0 million to KES 1.8 million per year (USD 7,700 to USD 13,900). Quality is broadly sound; the difference from premium tier is depth of subject options at senior level, university destinations track record and physical campus quality.

Value tier. Kenyan-British curriculum schools (Rusinga, Strathmore International, Riara, Brookhurst), several Christian-foundation schools (Rosslyn Academy, Rusinga School), and smaller community schools. Senior-year tuition KES 400,000 to KES 1.0 million per year (USD 3,100 to USD 7,700). Strong academic outcomes within their tradition, particularly for IGCSE and A-Level, though with less established international university destination records and smaller faculty depth. The cheapest schools guide covers this tier in detail.

Tuition tables by school

The numbers below cover the main reception, primary and senior year groups for 2026 to 2027 across the working Nairobi international school shortlist. Where a school operates multiple campuses, the senior-year figure is shown for the main campus.

Hidden fees and the 20 per cent loading

Total cost-of-place adds roughly 15 to 25 per cent to headline tuition at most Nairobi schools. The largest line items are the registration fee (KES 5,000 to KES 25,000 one time and non-refundable on application), enrolment or capital levy (KES 100,000 to KES 400,000 one time on acceptance, sometimes refundable on departure depending on the school), school bus (KES 80,000 to KES 150,000 per year, near-essential for many Karen, Runda and Tatu City catchments given Nairobi traffic), uniform (KES 25,000 to KES 60,000 in year one, less thereafter), iPad or laptop programmes in senior years (KES 60,000 to KES 130,000), exam entry fees in IGCSE, A-Level or IB years (KES 50,000 to KES 120,000 depending on subjects taken), school trips (KES 30,000 to KES 200,000 per year), and lunches where served (KES 70,000 to KES 130,000 per year).

For a family with two children at Brookhouse Karen in primary years, the all-in cost is therefore around KES 1.85 million per child rather than the headline KES 1.45 million tuition. For a family with one senior-year child at ISK, plan for KES 4.0 million all in against the KES 3.3 million headline. The working principle is to apply 1.20 to headline tuition for primary years and 1.25 to senior years to reach a realistic family budget figure. The capital fee deserves separate planning attention: it is paid once on acceptance and varies materially across schools, with ISK and Brookhouse Karen at the higher end (KES 250,000 to 400,000) and the mid tier at KES 100,000 to 200,000.

Sibling discounts and capital fees

Most Nairobi international schools offer sibling discounts, although the structure varies meaningfully. The common pattern is 5 to 10 per cent off the second sibling's tuition and 10 to 20 per cent off the third and subsequent children, with the discount applied to tuition only and not to capital fees or transport. Brookhouse, Braeburn, Hillcrest and GEMS Cambridge publish their sibling structures clearly. ISK operates a slightly different formula that includes the third sibling at a higher discount level. Aga Khan Academy applies a smaller sibling discount but offers needs-based fee support for some families that can exceed the value of a sibling discount.

Capital fees deserve special attention as the largest one-time cost on enrolment. Across the premium tier the range is KES 150,000 to KES 400,000 per child. Some schools (Brookhouse, ISK) refund a portion on departure if the family stays for three or more years; others (the Braeburn network, several mid-tier schools) treat the capital fee as non-refundable. Negotiate the capital fee structure carefully if you have two or three children entering simultaneously; some schools will waive or reduce capital fees for the second or third child on a case-by-case basis, particularly where the family commitment is for three or more years.

Payment plans, currency and what schools accept

Nairobi international schools typically offer two or three payment options: annual prepayment (sometimes with a 2 to 4 per cent discount), termly payment in three instalments (the most common arrangement), and monthly direct debit at a small number of schools. Payment can be in KES or USD at most premium schools, with the school's reference exchange rate published quarterly. USD payment removes the currency timing risk for families on USD-denominated packages and is the more common choice. Mid-tier and value-tier schools usually require KES payment.

Annual prepayment carries the family's full year of school fees up front, which suits employers who pay relocation lump sums in advance. Most expat families prefer termly payment to align with cash flow. Late payment fees are typical (KES 5,000 to KES 15,000 per overdue invoice) but rarely apply if communication with the school finance office is maintained. Schools accept bank transfer (the standard), cheque (still common for first-time fee settlements), and credit card payment at most premium schools, typically with a 2 to 3 per cent processing surcharge.

Nairobi versus other African and regional cities

Nairobi sits at the premium end of the African international school market but well below the Gulf, Singapore or London comparators. Premium senior-year fees at Brookhouse, ISK or Aga Khan Academy run USD 13,900 to USD 25,500 per year. Premium Johannesburg schools (American International School, St John's College day fees) run roughly USD 12,000 to USD 18,000. Premium Lagos schools (American International School Lagos, British International School Lagos) run USD 22,000 to USD 35,000. Premium Dubai senior places run USD 23,000 to USD 30,000. Premium Singapore senior places run USD 29,000 to USD 44,000. Nairobi therefore offers credible premium-tier international schooling at a roughly 15 to 30 per cent discount to the Gulf and a 30 to 50 per cent discount to Singapore or premium London independents, which is a meaningful advantage on multi-child packages.

Scholarships and financial assistance

Scholarships at Nairobi international schools are more developed than in the Gulf but less generous than at UK or US private school markets. Most premium schools offer academic, music or sport scholarships at sixth-form entry (Year 12 or IB DP Year 1), typically worth 25 to 50 per cent of tuition for two years, with a smaller number worth 75 to 100 per cent. Brookhouse, ISK, Aga Khan Academy, Peponi and St Andrew's Turi all publish their scholarship windows annually. Aga Khan Academy in particular operates a deliberately broad needs-based scholarship programme that extends well beyond the premium-school norm.

Financial assistance based on family circumstances (rather than child merit) is available at a small number of schools but rarely advertised. The realistic expectation for relocating expat families is that scholarships are not a meaningful planning factor for most situations; the more relevant lever is the employer education allowance. Where a child has a strong academic, music or sport profile worth flagging at sixth-form entry, scholarship applications are worth the effort.

Employer fee support and the negotiation

Kenyan and East African employer support for international schooling varies widely. Multinational employers relocating senior staff (the major banks, the United Nations and other intergovernmental organisations, the FMCG multinationals, the energy companies operating in the wider region) typically cover full tuition plus the capital levy for the duration of the assignment, with some also covering transport and uniforms. Mid-career relocations more often receive a flat education allowance (USD 12,000 to USD 25,000 per year per child is a common range) which may not cover the full fee at the premium tier. Kenyan-headquartered employers tend to offer less generous education packages than US, UK or European headquarters, though there are exceptions.

The negotiation is usually held during the relocation offer rather than after arrival. If the offered allowance falls short of the realistic fee for the school the family intends to use, the time to raise it is before signing. The cost calculator helps to size the gap between offered allowance and realistic fee, and the moving to Nairobi guide covers the broader relocation timeline.

The fee trajectory across senior years

One pattern worth flagging for families with children entering Year 7 or younger is the senior-year fee step. Across the Nairobi premium tier, senior-year tuition (Year 12 and Year 13) typically sits 20 to 30 per cent above middle-year tuition (Year 6 to Year 10). At Brookhouse Karen the step from Year 6 to Year 13 is from KES 2.0 million to KES 3.3 million, a 65 per cent rise across seven years. At ISK the equivalent step is roughly 55 per cent. Annual inflation in tuition (4 to 7 per cent per year) compounds with the year-on-year senior-year step to produce a meaningful tuition curve that families should model out before signing a multi-year tenancy.

The practical implication is that a senior-year budget for a child currently in Year 7 should be built around a USD 22,000 to USD 28,000 working number rather than the current Year 7 fee, even at constant currency. For families with two children at the same school spanning primary and senior, the combined fee can rise from around USD 25,000 in year one of the assignment to USD 45,000 by year four. Pair the cost calculator with a 5 per cent annual inflation assumption to stress test the budget.

Related guides

• Best international schools in Nairobi 2026
• Cheapest international schools in Nairobi
• IB schools in Nairobi: the complete list

Frequently asked questions