International Schools in Kenya
Compare 79 international schools in Kenya. Filter by curriculum, fees (average KES 755,636), location, and more to find the right international school now.
Edited by Nik Higgins · Co-founder & CEO
- Schools listed
- 79
- Curricula
- 28
- Average annual fee
- KES 795,406
- Fee range
- KES 350 – 4,361,610
More school facts
- Most common curriculum
- British Curriculum (47 schools)
- Average school size
- 555 pupils
- Largest by enrolment
- Oshwal Academy Nairobi
- Oldest
- Rift Valley Academy (1906)
- With boarding
- 29
About international schools in Kenya
International schools in Kenya are concentrated in Nairobi but also serve other regional centres and the coast, with both day and boarding options available to relocating families. They most commonly offer British (Cambridge IGCSE and A-Levels), International Baccalaureate and American-style programmes, with English as the principal medium of instruction and Kiswahili and other modern languages widely taught as additional languages. Annual tuition varies a great deal - broadly from the lower international tier at roughly KES 400,000 a year up to more than KES 3 million at higher-fee campuses - and many schools bill by term or semester and add one-off entry deposits, development levies or capital fees. Academic calendars differ: many international schools follow a northern-hemisphere August/September - June/July year while Kenyan-curriculum schools use a January - November cycle, so families should start enquiries months before the main intake and allow time for assessments, places and relocation logistics.
View by curriculum (8)
View by curriculum
50 international schools in Nairobi
See all 50 →
12 international schools in Mombasa
See all 12 →4 international schools in Kisumu
See all 4 →3 international schools in Nakuru
See all 3 →2 international schools in Kajiado
See all 2 →2 international schools in Thika
See all 2 →2 international schools in Malindi
See all 2 →1 international school in Nanyuki
See all 1 →1 international school in Gilgil
See all 1 →1 international school in Kijabe
See all 1 →1 international school in Molo
See all 1 →Choosing an international school in Kenya
Curricula
There are 79 international schools in Kenya covering 28 curricula. The most widely offered are British Curriculum (47), Cambridge IGCSE (42), Cambridge A Levels (36), BTEC Qualification (22), Cambridge International AS Levels (19). If your child may move countries again, an internationally-portable curriculum (IB, or Cambridge/British) keeps options open; if you're likely to settle, a curriculum matching your home or target university system can be the better fit.
Fees & what they cover
Annual tuition across Kenya runs from about KES 350 to KES 4,361,610, averaging roughly KES 795,406. Budget for one-off costs on top — application and enrolment fees, a refundable deposit, uniform, transport and exams.
Admissions & timing
Sought-after schools in Kenya run waiting lists, so apply early — ideally a term or two ahead. Most admissions involve an application, prior school reports and an assessment or interview, with entry points often tied to the school year. Each school's profile shows term dates, open days and how to enquire.
Boarding
29 of the 79 schools offer boarding — useful if you're relocating or want weekly or full boarding.
How doris stays impartial
doris lists every international school in Kenya we can find — not only those that pay. We take no placement fees and sell no rankings or "top school" spots, so the schools above aren't ordered by who paid most. Details come from the schools' own information and public sources, and you can compare any of them side by side.