As schools reopen this week for the 2026 academic calendar, the future of school fees and education financing has taken centre stage, dominating headlines across Kenya’s major newspapers. From government warnings to school heads, to teacher shortages and frozen recruitment, the reopening marks a turbulent beginning to a historic phase under the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system.
According to the Daily Nation, the Ministry of Education has frozen the hiring of 20,000 junior school interns on permanent and pensionable terms until 2027, a decision that has intensified pressure on already strained public schools. Principals argue that inadequate government capitation and staffing gaps leave them with little choice but to consider increasing fees to sustain operations and manage overcrowded classrooms.
However, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has issued a firm warning to school administrators. He has directed school heads to desist from imposing extra levies or illegal fees on parents, cautioning that the ministry will take decisive action against any verified cases of misappropriation of funds or unauthorized charges. This hardline stance sets up a looming confrontation between school managers seeking financial survival and government officials enforcing strict compliance.
The reopening also coincides with Kenya’s transition to Senior School under the CBE framework, a shift that has exposed challenges ranging from inadequate facilities to teacher shortages. Parents, already burdened by the high cost of living, fear that schools may quietly pass these costs onto them despite official directives.
Meanwhile, the Daily Nation also reports that top civil servants are set to benefit from a Sh2 billion pay rise, with senior officials receiving up to Sh30,250 more per month. The timing of this increment has sparked public debate, especially as schools struggle with funding shortfalls and junior teachers await confirmation into permanent roles.
In Taifa Leo, education concerns share space with broader socio-economic issues affecting households. Rising food prices, such as cabbages now retailing at up to Sh170 in Kisumu, further strain parents’ ability to meet school-related expenses. This economic pressure makes the fate of school fees an even more sensitive issue as families juggle basic needs with education costs.
Political divisions also hover in the background. With opposition leaders differing on the timing of announcing a presidential candidate, education policy and funding remain a potential political battleground as leaders position themselves ahead of future elections.
Overall, as schools reopen, the fate of school fees hangs in the balance. While the government insists that education should remain affordable and free from illegal levies, school heads warn that without increased funding and staffing, sustaining quality education will be difficult. For parents and learners, the coming weeks will reveal whether official assurances translate into relief—or whether hidden costs will continue to define