January 2027 Intake in Kenya: Online School From 5 January

By Alfred Ouko, Founder · October 2026 · 8 min read

Kenya’s school year starts in January, and so does our next intake. Smartious Term 2 begins on Monday 5 January 2027, and Kenyan families who apply by December can have their child placed, timetabled and ready for the first lesson. We were founded in Nairobi in 2018 and our teachers work on East Africa Time, so lessons run on the same clock as your household. This guide covers the Kenyan routes we teach, the placement assessment, fees in shillings, and the questions Kenyan parents ask us most in the weeks before January.

Why January works for Kenyan families

Because the Kenyan calendar begins in January, a move at this point means your child starts a new year with everyone else rather than switching mid-stream. That matters most at transition points. Learners moving into Junior School or into Senior School under the Competency-Based Education system, and students starting their IGCSE or A Level courses, all benefit from starting a new stage cleanly. It also suits families relocating between Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru or Eldoret, or returning from abroad, because an online school does not depend on where you live in the country.

The routes we teach in Kenya

There are two main routes. The first is the Kenyan CBC/CBE pathway, taught online, for families who want their child to stay aligned with the national curriculum published by KICD and the national assessments run by KNEC. The second is the British route, mainly Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and AS and A Level, with Pearson Edexcel options. Families on the British route sit their exams as private candidates at authorised centres such as the British Council in Nairobi. We also teach IB and American programmes for families who need them. If you are unsure which route fits, the placement assessment is a good moment to talk it through, because the right answer depends on where your child might study after school.

Placement assessment and timetable

Start by messaging admissions on WhatsApp at +254 745 021 212. We arrange a short online assessment in reading, writing and mathematics at your child’s level, and we look at recent reports. We then recommend a class and send the timetable. Lessons run in the Kenyan school day on East Africa Time, so there is no early morning or late night adjustment. After you accept the place and pay the termly invoice, your child receives a login and joins a short onboarding session before term begins.

Fees in Kenyan shillings

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 only, three months of that fee is about USD 1,269, roughly KSh 163,700; your actual term invoice depends on the term, curriculum and level, and admissions confirms it in writing. One-to-one tuition is USD 15 an hour, about KSh 1,900. Exam entry fees for IGCSE and A Level are paid separately to the exam centre. Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable has been created and lessons have started.

Exams from Kenya

For CBC/CBE learners, national assessments are run by KNEC, and families should check with KNEC and the Ministry of Education how a learner outside a registered school is entered for each assessment, because the rules apply to the assessment centre rather than to us. For Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel, students register as private candidates at an authorised centre. The British Council in Kenya publishes private candidate registration pages with closing dates for each series, and its page has noted an additional KNEC fee per candidate, so check the current amount. Our guide to private candidate IGCSE in Kenya goes through this step by step.

Is this homeschooling?

Families often call it homeschooling because the child learns at home. In practice there is a difference. In parent-led homeschooling, the parent plans and teaches. In an online school, qualified teachers plan and teach live lessons and the parent supervises. The legal position of home education in Kenya is not straightforward, and we have written a separate, careful guide to it. Our advice is always the same: understand the position, keep records of your child’s learning, and check with the Ministry of Education if you are unsure.

Checklist before 5 January

Apply by December. Have recent report cards and any learning support documents ready for the assessment. Set up a laptop or desktop with a webcam and headset, a stable internet connection and a mobile data backup for power or network cuts. Choose a quiet place to learn. If your child is in an exam year, ask us about the British Council registration dates at the same time as you apply. And plan the first week: children settle faster when they know their timetable and their teachers’ names before the first day.

If January is the right moment for your child, apply by December so the assessment, placement and timetable are done before Kenya’s school year begins. Message admissions on WhatsApp at +254 745 021 212, call our academic team on +254 182 071 920, or email hello@smartioushomeschool.com.

Frequently asked questions

When does the January 2027 intake start in Kenya?

Monday 5 January 2027, the first day of Term 2 of our 2026–27 academic year. Lessons run on East Africa Time.

How much are the fees in shillings?

From USD 423 a month for Primary, payable termly, about KSh 54,600 at roughly KSh 129 to the dollar (approximate, October 2026). Fees vary by curriculum and level.

Do you teach CBC/CBE online?

Yes, alongside Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, IB and American programmes. The assessment helps you choose.

Where do students sit IGCSE exams in Kenya?

As private candidates at authorised centres such as the British Council in Nairobi. Check the centre’s closing dates early.

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