Kenyan parents are feeling the pinch of rising living costs as students break for Term Two holidays. Many cite struggles affording food, transport, and school fees.
As schools across Kenya closed for the Term Two holiday on August 1, 2025, parents are grappling with the escalating cost of living, which has made meeting educational and household expenses increasingly challenging. The 14-week second term, which began on April 28, 2025, was marked by financial strain for many families, exacerbated by rising prices of school supplies, transport, and basic necessities.
Drawing from recent reports and public sentiment, it highlights the systemic issues contributing to this crisis and the urgent need for government intervention.
Kenya’s economy in 2025 has been characterized by a paradox of low inflation and persistent financial hardship. According to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), year-on-year consumer price inflation for June 2025 stood at approximately 3.2%, a slight increase from 2.8% in May, driven by higher costs of food, energy, and transport. Despite this relatively low inflation rate, households continue to struggle due to depressed spending power, high interest rates, and declining private sector activity. Data analyst Mihr Thakar noted, “Low inflation amidst high interest rates and anaemic private sector activity indicates deteriorating economic growth. The high cost of living persists as prices continue to rise.”
The cost of essential commodities has surged, with parents reporting that items previously priced at Sh100 now cost Sh200 or more. For instance, a pair of school shoes, a mandatory requirement for many institutions, now averages Sh2,500, while textbooks and stationery have seen similar price hikes. Transport costs have also risen, with matatu fares on routes like Nairobi-Eldoret increasing from Sh800 to Sh1,000, adding to the financial burden of sending children back to school after the holiday.
The timing of school reopenings and closures exacerbates these challenges. The Term Two holiday, running from August 4 to August 22, 2025, coincides with a period when many salaried workers have not yet received their monthly pay, making it difficult to cover school fees and other expenses. Esther Auma, a parent from Kibera, lamented, “I rely on those who earn a salary. How do we pay when they have not even earned a salary?” This sentiment is echoed across the country, particularly in urban areas like Nairobi and Kisii, where parents have flocked to bookshops and markets to purchase supplies at inflated prices.
Education remains a significant expense for Kenyan households, with a recent WorldRemit study revealing that the cost of education is approximately 10 times the average monthly household income. The study estimated the total cost per child at Sh68,701, with the average household spending Sh221,904 annually on education, given an average household size of 3.23. This is particularly daunting for families earning the average monthly income of Sh20,123, with 40% of workers earning less than Sh50,000 per month. The richest 10% of Kenyans earn 23 times more than the poorest 10%, highlighting significant income inequality that compounds the education cost burden.
School fees, uniforms, and additional levies such as remedial fees, benevolent funds, and motivation fees often exceed Sh10,000 per term, even in public schools. William Momanyi, a parent from Umoja Estate in Nairobi, opted to transfer his three children to a cheaper school, reducing his termly fees from Sh90,000 to Sh66,000, saving Sh24,000. However, such options are not always available, particularly in rural areas where school choices are limited.
The government’s Free Primary Education and Free Day Secondary Education policies, which allocate Sh1,420 and Sh22,244 per learner annually, respectively, have been insufficient to cover operational costs. Schools rely on these capitation funds, disbursed in a 50:30:20 ratio across terms, but delays and shortfalls have left institutions struggling. In Term One of 2025, the National Treasury released Sh33 billion, falling short of the promised Sh48 billion, forcing schools to impose additional levies on parents. Willie Kuria, chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), highlighted the crisis, stating, “The capitation we received is the same as in 2008, when the cost of living was considerably lower.”
Parents across Kenya have voiced their frustrations, with many resorting to desperate measures to meet educational expenses. Some have sold household items or agricultural produce, while others have turned to digital lending platforms to borrow funds. A Tala report indicated that schooling needs are the top reason Kenyans take loans, followed by medical expenses and business investments. In Taita Taveta, parents appealed to school managements not to send away students with fee arrears, citing the dire economic situation. Sora Sedo, a parent from Moyale, recounted paying Sh7,000 for transport to Nairobi, up from Sh6,000, and facing delays due to inadequate transport options.
The Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), while praised for fostering skills in athletics, music, and drama, has added to parents’ financial burdens due to its resource-intensive implementation. Elizabeth Wabwoba, headteacher at Kibabii Girls, noted, “CBC is a good curriculum, but it is facing a lot of challenges in its implementation.” The need for specialized materials and activities has increased costs, particularly for schools with large populations.
In some cases, parents have faced pressure from schools to clear fees immediately, with ultimatums threatening to bar students from returning after the holiday. A Nairobi parent reported receiving a message to pick up their child before the weekend, as schools struggled with unpaid fees and delayed government funding. These pressures have led to early school closures, with some institutions shutting down a week before the scheduled August 1 date, resulting in lost learning time.
The government has acknowledged the funding challenges but has been slow to address them. Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba assured parents that additional capitation funds would be released, stating, “We have released 25%... in the next 10 days we should have released the resources.” However, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) have criticized the government for failing to honor funding commitments. KNUT Secretary General Collins Oyuu warned that school programs could grind to a halt without immediate disbursement, while KUPPET’s Moses Nthurima accused the government of making empty promises.
School principals, caught between insufficient government funding and parental non-payment, have resorted to cost-cutting measures. Some have closed early for the Term Two holiday to reduce expenses, while others have relied on parental donations, such as maize for school meals. Eunice Mwaiseghe, principal of St Thomas Girls Secondary School, stated, “I survived the last term by the grace of God.” Suppliers, too, are feeling the pinch, with many refusing to provide goods due to unpaid debts, further straining school operations.
The high cost of living and inadequate school funding have far-reaching consequences. A Usawa Agenda report noted that 40% of learners drop out due to unpaid fees, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions where poverty is rampant. This threatens Kenya’s goal of 100% transition from primary to secondary education, with 1.2 million students placed in secondary schools in 2025. Dropout rates undermine the country’s human capital development and exacerbate inequality, as poorer households are disproportionately affected.
The financial strain also risks student unrest, as seen in recent incidents across Kenyan schools. Principals fear that budget cuts and inadequate services could lead to protests if not addressed. Moreover, the reliance on loans and informal coping mechanisms, such as selling assets, places families in a cycle of debt, further eroding economic stability.
Addressing the crisis requires a multifaceted approach:
Increase and Timely Capitation: The government must prioritize full and timely disbursement of capitation funds, adjusting allocations to reflect current economic realities. The Sh22,244 per secondary student, unchanged since 2008, is inadequate given inflation and rising costs.
Subsidize Essential Commodities: Stabilizing prices of school supplies, fuel, and food through subsidies or tax reductions could ease the burden on parents. For instance, maintaining fuel prices, as suggested by parent Omar, would prevent ripple effects on transport and commodity costs.
Enhance Bursary Programs: The Auditor-General’s planned audit of county bursaries highlights the need for transparent, merit-based systems to ensure funds reach deserving students. Addressing reported issues of corruption and nepotism in bursary allocation is critical.
Flexible School Calendars: Adjusting school reopening dates to align with salary cycles could alleviate financial pressure. Parents like Esther Auma have called for calendars that consider workers’ pay schedules.
Public-Private Partnerships: Collaborations with private entities, such as the Finlay’s Trust scholarships in Bomet and Kericho, could supplement government funding and support disadvantaged students.
As Kenyan schools close for the Term Two holiday in August 2025, parents’ cry over the high cost of living reflect a broader economic and educational crisis. Rising prices, delayed government funding, and inadequate capitation have pushed families to the brink, forcing many to borrow, sell assets, or delay school payments. While the government’s commitment to free education is laudable, its implementation falls short, leaving schools and parents to bear the brunt of economic challenges. Urgent action is needed to increase funding, stabilize prices, and ensure equitable access to education. Without these interventions, the dream of universal education in Kenya risks being undermined, with long-term consequences for the nation’s development.
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