Nairobi is East Africa's diplomatic and business hub, home to United Nations offices and a large international community, and it offers one of the widest fields of international schools on the continent. For a relocating family the school decision comes first, because the best known schools in Nairobi hold limited places and the choice of curriculum and neighbourhood shapes the daily commute across a spread out city.
The school landscape in Nairobi
International provision in Nairobi is broad and well established, so most families weigh several strong options. Aga Khan Academy Nairobi offers an International Baccalaureate education. Braeside School follows a British curriculum, and Crawford International School offers a Cambridge based programme. Alongside these sit French, German and American curriculum schools, a large field of British curriculum private schools, and Kenyan national schools that follow the local competency based curriculum.
How to move to Nairobi with children, step by step
Relocating with school aged children rewards early planning. These five steps mirror how the GlobalSchoolGuide relocation desk sequences a family move, so nothing critical slips through the gaps between the offer, the housing search and the first day of term.
- Set your relocation timeline. Fix your move date against the start of the school year in Nairobi and work backwards, allowing several months for shortlisting and applications.
- Shortlist and apply to schools. Match two or three schools in Nairobi to your child's age, curriculum and budget, then apply early because the leading schools have limited capacity.
- Confirm fees and admissions. Request the current fee schedule and admissions requirements directly from each school, since published figures are reset every academic year.
- Choose a neighbourhood near school. Pick housing within a reasonable commute of your shortlisted school, since Nairobi is spread out and school location shapes daily life.
- Settle the practical set up. Arrange visas, banking, health cover and the physical move, and time everything to the school calendar so your child starts with the year group.
Fees and budgeting
Fee paying international schooling in Nairobi spans a wide range, from mid priced British curriculum schools to premium international campuses, reflecting class sizes, facilities and specialist teaching. Fees vary by school, year group and campus, and many schools add registration, capital or enrolment charges on top of tuition, so treat any single figure with caution. Because schools reset their schedules each academic year, request the current fee list directly from each school. Kenyan national schools carry lower fees and follow the local curriculum, and are mainly chosen by families comfortable with that system.
Free Nairobi family relocation checklist
Work through our step by step checklist covering the admissions timeline, documents, housing and the first month settling in. Browse the full library on our guides hub, or start with the Nairobi city guide for school listings.
Neighbourhoods and housing
International families most often settle in Karen, Runda, Gigiri, Muthaiga and Lavington, choosing housing that combines security and space with a workable run to school. Gigiri sits close to the United Nations complex and several international schools, while Karen and Runda are popular with families who want larger gardens. Because Nairobi is spread out and traffic can be heavy, choosing a home within a sensible commute of your chosen school matters more here than the address itself.
Language and settling in
English is an official language of Kenya and the medium of instruction in the international schools, so most expat children settle in without a language barrier. Swahili is widely spoken in daily life and is taught in many schools, and children usually pick it up easily. Building the family routine around the school day from the outset makes the settling in period smoother.
Curriculum continuity
Curriculum continuity is usually the decision that matters most. Nairobi is strong in British and International Baccalaureate provision, so a child part way through either pathway will usually find a smooth transition. The closer a child is to a leaving examination, the more weight you should give to keeping the same curriculum. Our British curriculum hub and IB curriculum hub are useful references.
Fees by stage
To ground your budgeting, compare typical fee bands by school stage rather than relying on a single headline number. Our stage guides set out what families pay at each level and how charges build across the years. See the Nairobi primary school fees guide and the Nairobi secondary school fees guide, and always confirm the current figures with each school directly.
Visas, healthcare and admin
Practically, confirm your visa and residency status early, since your category shapes both your access to services and your children's school registration in Nairobi. Arrange health cover for the settling in period before your status and registration are complete, and set up local banking soon after arrival, since school fees, deposits and daily life all run more smoothly once a domestic account is open. Sequencing status, housing and the school offer carefully makes the first month far less stressful than handling everything at once.
The admissions timeline
The leading schools in Nairobi accept applications ahead of the school year, and because capacity is limited, individual year groups can fill well before any published deadline. British curriculum schools generally work towards a September start while some schools run other intakes, so confirm the calendar for each school on your shortlist. Applying early is the single most effective way to protect your first choice, and where a year group is full it is worth joining the waiting list while keeping a realistic second option open.
Your first weeks: what to prioritise
In your first weeks in Nairobi, confirm the school place and start date in writing, then settle the essentials that everything else depends on: residency status, a local bank account, health cover and a domestic mobile and internet plan. With those handled, the wider routines of family life fall into place quickly. Many families also register early for after school activities and clubs, which help children build friendships and settle into the rhythm of the school year.
Frequently asked questions
Does Nairobi have English speaking schools?
Yes. English is an official language of Kenya and the medium of instruction in the international schools, including Aga Khan Academy Nairobi, Braeside School and Crawford International School, alongside French, German and American options.
Are international schools in Nairobi expensive?
Fees span a wide range, from mid priced British curriculum schools to premium international campuses. Fees vary by school and year group and are reset annually, so request the current schedule directly from each school.
Where do international families tend to live?
Karen, Runda, Gigiri, Muthaiga and Lavington are the districts international families most often choose, with Gigiri close to the United Nations complex.
Can expat children attend local schools?
Yes. Kenyan national schools follow the local competency based curriculum and carry lower fees, and are mainly chosen by families comfortable with that system, while most expat families keep an international curriculum.
When should we apply?
Apply well ahead of the school year and earlier for competitive year groups, because the leading schools in Nairobi have limited capacity and popular years fill first.
Plan your move
Use these free tools and guides to turn this overview into a shortlist and a working plan for your family's move to Nairobi.