Cost of Homeschooling in Kenya: Homeschool & Online School Fees (2026/27)

By Alfred Ouko, Founder · October 2026 · 10 min read

The cost of homeschooling in Kenya depends far more on the model you choose than on the curriculum. A parent who teaches everything spends mainly on materials, exams and time. A family that hires tutors pays by the hour. A family that joins an online school pays a termly fee that covers teaching, assessments and reports. This guide sets out what each model really involves in Kenyan shillings for 2026/27, including the costs families forget, and explains Smartious fees in plain terms. We do not quote other providers’ prices, because they change and we cannot verify them. We give you the questions to ask instead.

Three ways to homeschool, three cost shapes

Parent-led homeschooling is the cheapest in cash and the most expensive in time. You buy books and materials, pay exam fees and perhaps a co-op or activity, and one adult carries the teaching. Tutor-led homeschooling replaces some of that time with paid hours, and costs rise with every subject you hand over. Online school is a single termly fee for a full timetable of live lessons taught by qualified teachers, with the parent in a supervising role. None is right for every family. The useful question is not which is cheapest, but which you can sustain for several years without burning out or leaving gaps in your child’s education.

Smartious fees in KSh, per month and per term

Smartious fees start from USD 423 a month for Primary, payable termly, and vary by curriculum and level. At roughly KSh 129 to the dollar (approximate, October 2026), the Primary starting fee is about KSh 54,600 a month. As an illustration, three months at that fee is about USD 1,269, roughly KSh 163,700 for a term; the exact term invoice depends on the term, curriculum and level, and admissions confirms it in writing before you pay. Secondary, IGCSE and A Level fees are higher than the Primary starting fee. Because fees are set in dollars, the shilling amount moves with the exchange rate. Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable has been created and lessons have started.

One-to-one tuition: USD 15 an hour

For families who teach most subjects themselves but want a specialist for one or two, Smartious one-to-one tuition is USD 15 an hour, about KSh 1,900 at roughly KSh 129 to the dollar (approximate, October 2026). Two hours a week of mathematics over a twelve week term is 24 hours, about USD 360 or roughly KSh 46,400. This is a good model for a confident homeschooling parent who needs help with chemistry or A Level maths. It becomes expensive if you try to cover a whole timetable this way, which is when a full online school usually works out better value.

Costs every family should budget for

Whatever model you choose, budget for these. A laptop or desktop, a webcam and a headset. Reliable internet and a mobile data backup, plus a plan for power cuts. Books and stationery. Exam entry fees, which are paid to the exam centre, not to the school: for Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel, students enter as private candidates at authorised centres such as the British Council, which publishes its fees per subject for each series, and its Kenya page has noted an additional KNEC fee per candidate. Activities and sport, which matter for a child learning at home. And the parent’s time, which is a real cost even when it does not appear on an invoice.

How to compare fairly

When you compare providers, compare like with like. Ask how many hours of live teaching a week the fee includes, not only the headline number. Ask the class size. Ask whether the teachers are qualified in their subjects. Ask what is included: marking, reports, parent meetings, exam guidance, and help with private candidate registration. Ask whether fees are per month, per term or per year, in which currency, and what the refund rule is. Ask whether exam entry fees are included or separate. A cheaper fee for fewer live hours is not cheaper. A higher fee that removes the need for tutors may be.

Comparing with a private school

Many Nairobi families compare online school with the fees at a private or international day school. That comparison is fair only if you include everything: transport, uniforms, lunches, trips, building levies and the hidden cost of long commutes. An online school removes most of those, but adds some of its own, such as equipment and a parent at home to supervise younger children. We encourage families to make a simple spreadsheet for a full year, with every line, rather than comparing two headline numbers.

Paying for school in Kenya

Smartious invoices termly in US dollars. Families in Kenya can pay through our payment provider by M-Pesa, card or bank transfer. If you are budgeting in shillings, check the exchange rate when the invoice arrives and leave a margin. If you have more than one child, or a child with particular needs, talk to admissions before the assessment so the quote reflects your situation.

The real cost of homeschooling in Kenya is the cost of the model you can sustain. Write down every line for a full year, compare like with like, and ask the questions above of every provider, including us. For a quote for your child, message admissions on WhatsApp at +254 745 021 212 or email hello@smartioushomeschool.com.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cost of homeschooling in Kenya?

It depends on the model. Parent-led homeschooling costs mainly materials and exam fees. Online school with Smartious starts from USD 423 a month for Primary, about KSh 54,600 at roughly KSh 129 to the dollar (approximate, October 2026), payable termly.

How much is a term?

The term invoice depends on the term, curriculum and level. As an illustration, three months at the Primary starting fee is about USD 1,269, roughly KSh 163,700. Admissions confirms the exact amount in writing.

Are exam fees included?

No. IGCSE and A Level entry fees are paid to the exam centre, such as the British Council, which publishes its own fees.

Can we get a refund?

Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable has been created and lessons have started.

How much is one-to-one tuition?

USD 15 an hour, about KSh 1,900 (approximate, October 2026).

Next steps

What parents say

Rated 4.9 out of 5 on Google from 130+ reviews. Read our Google reviews

“Smartious Homeschooling delivers genuinely effective one-on-one instruction. The teachers are patient, consistent, and skilled at identifying and addressing each learner's specific academic gaps. Since enrolling, our child has become more confident, enjoys lessons, and is now performing above grade level. For families in Nairobi seeking a dependable, academically rigorous homeschooling programme with personalised support, Smartious is a standout choice.” — Allan H., Google review