If you are looking to enrol your child in an international school, you may be better off seeking an institution outside Kenya, if a recent survey is anything to go by.
As per a recent report from the International Schools Database, Nairobi emerged as the most expensive city for international schooling in the whole of Africa, with a median annual fee of Ksh920,000 (USD 7,116).
The report analysed school fee data from seven cities across six notable African countries. It was discovered that the median price for International schools in Nairobi was at least Ksh194,000 (USD 1,500) more than the second most expensive city, Johannesburg in South Africa.
Interestingly, school fees in Nairobi were fairly higher than in cities of fairly more developed countries, including Cairo in Egypt, which offers a median annual fee of just Ksh300,000 (USD2,966). This figure is less than half of Nairobi's annual rate.
Jo'burg, Nairobi's closest counterpart, also has a fairly affordable annual school fee rate for international schools, with a median rate of Ksh731,000 (USD 5,657).
Cape Town followed closely behind Cairo in terms of expensive international schools, with a median annual fee of Ksh515,110 (USD 3,979).
It is worth noting that despite Nairobi having the highest median school fee rate, Kenya's capital does not boast the most expensive school fee for an international school. This title is held by Casablanca, Morocco, which has an international school with an annual fee of up to Ksh1.7 million (USD 13,372).
However, in Casablanca, there is a huge disparity in international school fees, as there are institutions whose fees can be as low as Ksh480,000.
For Nairobi, the average international school fees are well over Ksh900,000, pointing to the city's reputation as an educational powerhouse.
The relatively high average cost of international schools in Nairobi indicates a smaller disparity in school standards compared to Casablanca, a dynamic which explains why Kenya's capital is number one in Africa.
The soaring school fees for international schools in Nairobi can partly be attributed to the capital increasingly becoming a hub for multinational corporations, diplomatic missions, and NGOs. This, in turn, attracts expatriates, leading to high demand for premium schooling options.
Nairobi's international schools have also taken the premium route, with a quick spot check revealing a higher standard in amenities such as campuses. According to the International Schools Database, global curricula such as IB and British systems are offered more extensively in Nairobi than in other African cities.
