Most Expensive Private Schools in Kenya 2026: Location, Fees & Costs

Kenya’s top private and international schools now charge annual fees ranging from roughly KSh 2 million to over KSh 4.5 million per student. This guide breaks down the fee structures, locations, and admissions requirements for the country’s highest-charging institutions, so parents researching options know exactly what they’re budgeting for before applying.

Kenya’s most expensive schools charge annual fees comparable to top international schools across Africa, with the International School of Kenya currently the highest-priced institution in the country. Photo: Brookhouse schools

This is written for parents comparing schools, education researchers, and anyone curious about what elite schooling actually costs in Kenya right now. Figures below reflect published 2025/26 and 2026/27 fee schedules and are current as of this writing, though schools do revise fees annually, so always confirm directly with the admissions office before budgeting.

What Puts a School in the Top Tier

Six schools consistently top Kenya’s fee rankings: International School of Kenya, Brookhouse, St. Andrew’s School Turi, Peponi School, Hillcrest International School, and Greensteds International School. What separates them from the dozens of other private schools in Nairobi isn’t just price. It’s the combination of internationally recognized curricula (IB, British A-Levels, North American diplomas), small class sizes, extensive facilities, and, in most cases, direct pathways to universities abroad.

Fee Comparison at a Glance

Detailed School Profiles

1. International School of Kenya (ISK)

ISK sits at the top of Kenya’s fee rankings and it isn’t close. Located on Kirawa Road at the Kitisuru-Runda border, ISK is a day school running Pre-K through Grade 12, teaching a North American curriculum alongside the IB Diploma Programme.

Tuition scales by grade: Kindergarten starts at USD 30,800, rising to USD 37,330 for Grades 11 and 12, which works out to roughly KSh 4.0 million to KSh 4.85 million a year at current exchange rates. New students also pay a one-time, non-refundable Capital Levy of USD 11,000, plus a USD 400 application fee. Optional bus transport adds another USD 2,200 annually.

ISK doesn’t offer boarding. Admission requires an online application, certified transcripts from the past three academic years, and reference letters, and the school is genuinely selective, with placement often prioritized for diplomatic and expatriate families.

2. Brookhouse Schools

Brookhouse runs two campuses: Karen (off Magadi Road) offers both day and boarding, while Runda (off Kiambu Road) is day-only. This is a correction worth flagging: boarding is available exclusively at the Karen campus, not both.

Fees rise sharply by year group. Year 13 tuition-only sits at KSh 2,880,000 annually, while full boarding and tuition at Karen reaches KSh 4,545,000 for the same year group. Some fee breakdowns that bundle in extras like uniforms, trips, and exam fees push senior boarding costs closer to KSh 6.8 million a year, so it’s worth asking the admissions office for an all-inclusive estimate rather than relying on the base tuition figure alone.

Registration costs KSh 50,000, plus a refundable caution deposit of KSh 100,000 for day students or KSh 200,000 for boarders. Admission involves English and Maths assessments, a campus interview, and academic transcripts.

3. Peponi School

Peponi is owned by the Kenyatta family and its senior school sits inside the family’s Northlands City development in Ruiru. It’s one of Kenya’s most established schools, founded in 1985, offering day, weekly boarding, and full boarding across Years 9 to 13.

Day tuition runs KSh 976,370 per term (KSh 2,929,110 a year). Full boarding costs KSh 1,453,870 per term, which comes to roughly KSh 4,361,610 annually. One-off costs include a KSh 7,500 application fee, a KSh 15,000 registration fee, and a refundable caution deposit of KSh 500,000 for Kenyan residents or KSh 700,000 for non-residents. Admission depends on Common Entrance Examination results or Peponi’s own entry assessment, plus an interview with the headmaster.

4. St. Andrew’s School, Turi

Turi sits on a 450-acre estate in Molo, Nakuru County, complete with a private airstrip, a golf course, and its own lake for water sports. It’s a full-boarding-focused Christian school running from Prep through Sixth Form under the British curriculum.

Annual fees range from around KSh 2.5 million in the early years to roughly KSh 3.9 million for senior boarders, though families should confirm current figures directly, since fee bands shift by year group more than most schools on this list. The assessment fee is KSh 11,800, and securing a place requires a deposit equal to 50% of one term’s boarding fees. A 5% sibling discount applies from the second child onward.

5. Hillcrest International School

Hillcrest, located along Langata Road in Karen, has offered British-curriculum education since 1965. For the 2026/2027 academic year, annual tuition ranges from about KSh 384,000 for playgroup up to KSh 3,083,099 for Years 12 and 13, higher than commonly cited elsewhere, so it’s worth double-checking against the current published schedule if you’re budgeting for senior years specifically.

Deposit requirements scale with year group, from KSh 25,000 in early years up to KSh 100,000 for older students.

6. Greensteds International School

Located about six kilometres outside Nakuru town, Greensteds has run since 1936, making it one of the oldest international schools in the country. Term fees range from KSh 53,000 to KSh 895,000 depending on class level and whether the student boards, which puts annual costs for senior boarding students at roughly KSh 2 million to KSh 2.7 million.

Common Mistakes When Comparing Fees

Parents comparing schools often look only at the headline tuition figure and miss the one-off costs. Registration fees, caution deposits, capital levies, and exam fees can add hundreds of thousands of shillings in the first year alone, and several of these amounts (like ISK’s Capital Levy or Peponi’s caution deposit) are non-refundable or only partially refundable.

Another common mix-up is assuming boarding is available everywhere it’s listed as an option. Brookhouse, for instance, only boards at its Karen campus, and ISK doesn’t offer boarding at all. Always confirm campus-specific policies before assuming a fee applies to your preferred location.

Read also:Top 10 Best National Polytechnics in Kenya: Fees and Courses (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the most expensive school in Kenya?

The International School of Kenya currently charges the highest fees, with Grade 11-12 tuition reaching USD 37,330 (roughly KSh 4.85 million) annually.

Do these schools offer scholarships?

Several do. ISK runs a scholarship program for Kenyan citizens covering full high school costs based on merit and financial need, and Brookhouse offers the Nsouli Scholars Programme for outstanding students aged 13 to 18.

Are fees paid in Kenyan shillings or US dollars?

It varies by school. ISK publishes fees in USD but allows Kenyan citizens to pay in shillings with proof of citizenship. Brookhouse, Peponi, Hillcrest, and Greensteds bill primarily in Kenyan shillings.

Is boarding available at all these schools?

No. ISK is day-only. Brookhouse offers boarding exclusively at its Karen campus. Peponi, St. Andrew’s Turi, Hillcrest, and Greensteds all offer boarding options.

Conclusion

Kenya’s top-tier private schools now charge fees that rival international schools across the region, with the gap between day and boarding options often exceeding KSh 1 million a year. ISK remains the priciest by a clear margin, while Peponi, Brookhouse, and St. Andrew’s Turi cluster closely together at the upper end of the boarding market. Fee schedules change annually, so treat every figure here as a planning benchmark and confirm current numbers directly with each school’s admissions office before committing.