Makini School is one of the older private schools in the Kenyan capital, founded in 1978 and grown from a small nursery into a multi campus group teaching thousands of pupils. It runs both the Kenyan Competency Based Curriculum and the international Cambridge pathway, and its Cambridge campus on Ngong Road places it firmly among the value tier of the Nairobi international schools market. Now part of the ADvTECH group, the school is a member of the Kenya Association of International Schools.
For relocating families who want a recognised Cambridge education at a more accessible price, Makini is a practical and central option. This profile sets out its curriculum, its fee band, the admissions approach and where its families tend to live. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed.
Makini School at a glance
| Curriculum and exam boards | Cambridge to IGCSE and Kenyan CBC (by campus) |
|---|---|
| Stage range | Early years to IGCSE on the Cambridge campus |
| Founded | 1978 |
| Group and membership | ADvTECH group; Kenya Association of International Schools |
| Fee band | Value tier, roughly KES 279,000 to 405,000 a year on the Cambridge campus |
| Campus area | Ngong Road and State House Avenue, Nairobi |
Curriculum and academics
Makini runs two curricula across its campuses. The Kenyan Competency Based Curriculum serves families following the national system, while the Makini Cambridge campus delivers the British Cambridge pathway from the early years through to IGCSE in Year 11. This gives families a choice between the local route and an internationally portable qualification within the same well known group.
English is the medium of instruction on the Cambridge campus, where pupils sit Cambridge Primary and Lower Secondary checkpoints before moving on to IGCSE. Families weighing the international route can read our overviews of the Cambridge programme and the wider British curriculum to see how the stages lead into IGCSE and beyond.
Comparing Makini with other Nairobi options?
Use our free compare tool to put Makini side by side with up to two other Nairobi schools on curriculum, fees and location.
Makini School fees
Makini sits at the accessible end of the Cambridge market in Nairobi. For the Cambridge campus, recent published projections put annual tuition from roughly KES 279,000 in the preschool and junior years to about KES 405,000 in the upper primary years, with the senior IGCSE years charged separately at a higher rate. That keeps the school within the value band set out in our Nairobi school fees guide. Fees vary by campus and curriculum and are set each year, so confirm the current figure for your child's year group before you budget.
Beyond tuition, plan for the standard line items: a registration or admission charge, plus books, uniform, examination entry fees and optional transport. Because the group runs both CBC and Cambridge campuses at different price points, ask the admissions office for the specific schedule for the campus and curriculum you are considering.
Admissions and intake
The Cambridge campus follows an international academic year running from September to July, and it accepts applications on a rolling basis as places become available in each year group. Families submit an application form, recent school reports and the child's identity and immigration documents, and most applicants sit an age appropriate entry assessment or readiness check.
Because Makini is a large and well known group, its Cambridge places are in steady demand, and the main entry points fill early. Applying ahead of your planned start date and confirming which campus best fits your child improves the chance of a place at your preferred year group.
Location and who goes there
The Cambridge campus is on Ngong Road, a busy corridor south west of the city centre, with further campuses on State House Avenue and beyond Nairobi. The Ngong Road location draws a broad mix of internationally minded Kenyan families and expatriate households who want a recognised Cambridge education without the premium fees of the top international schools.
Families comparing options often look at Braeside School and Oshwal Academy Nairobi alongside this one. For a fuller view of how the Cambridge, IB and American sectors sit together across the city, the Nairobi schools hub maps the whole market by curriculum, fee band and neighbourhood.
Makini School reviews
No verified parent reviews of Makini School have been submitted to GlobalSchoolGuide yet. We do not publish a star rating until we have collected enough verified accounts to be fair to the school and useful to parents, and we never invent ratings. If your family attends or has attended the school, you can help other relocating parents through our school reviews page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Makini School fees?
For the Cambridge campus, recent published projections put annual tuition from roughly KES 279,000 in the preschool and junior years to about KES 405,000 in the upper primary years, with the senior IGCSE years charged separately. Fees vary by campus and curriculum, so confirm the current figure with the school.
What curriculum does Makini School follow?
Makini offers both the Kenyan Competency Based Curriculum and the international Cambridge curriculum, depending on the campus. The Makini Cambridge campus on Ngong Road runs the British Cambridge pathway from the early years to IGCSE.
Is Makini School a good school?
Makini is a long established Nairobi school, founded in 1978 and now part of the ADvTECH group, and a member of the Kenya Association of International Schools. GlobalSchoolGuide does not publish a star rating, and whether it suits your child depends on the campus and curriculum you choose.
Where is Makini School?
Makini has several campuses in Nairobi, with the Cambridge campus on Ngong Road and further campuses on State House Avenue and beyond the city.
When do Makini School applications open?
The Cambridge campus follows an international academic year from September to July and accepts applications on a rolling basis, with places offered subject to availability and an entry assessment.
