Online School & Homeschool in Nairobi

Online school and homeschooling in Nairobi

Live online classes and in-person homeschooling for families in Karen, Westlands, Kilimani, Lavington, Runda, Kileleshwa and across the city, from our Parklands head office.

Smartious was founded in Nairobi in 2018 and Nairobi is still home: our head office and learning centre are at Diamond Plaza I Annex in Parklands, and we have a second centre in Karen. Nairobi families use us in three ways. Some enrol full time in the online school, with live lessons on a weekly timetable and recordings of every class. Some choose in-person homeschooling at one of our centres, which keeps a school-day routine without the long cross-city school run. Others keep their child at their current school and book one-to-one tuition for one or two subjects. We teach Cambridge Primary, Lower Secondary, IGCSE and A Level, Pearson Edexcel, the IB, the American curriculum with AP, and Kenya's CBE (CBC), all in East Africa Time.

Challenges Nairobi families face

Why Nairobi families choose Smartious

Full-time Smartious students in Nairobi get a personal timetable on the Smartious LMS, live small-group lessons with subject teachers, recordings of every lesson, homework and assessments marked online, and termly reports. Families who want structure outside the home can choose in-person homeschooling at Parklands or Karen. Students come to the centre for taught lessons and supervised study, then go home without crossing the city.

One-to-one tuition is USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940 at the Oct 2026 rate). It runs online, at our Parklands or Karen centre, or, in many Nairobi estates, at your home. Some estates further from our centres carry a small transport contribution. Our Nairobi tuition page (/tuition-nairobi) lists the areas we cover, including Karen, Westlands, Kilimani, Lavington, Runda, Kileleshwa, Parklands, Langata, Muthaiga, South B and C, Syokimau and Kitengela, with the details for each.

Live lessons run in East Africa Time, so there is no time-zone adjustment: a 9 am lesson is 9 am in Nairobi. Safaricom, Zuku, Faiba and other fibre services in Nairobi estates are fine for live classes. A laptop, a headset and a quiet room are what matter most. Recordings mean that a power cut or a dropped connection does not mean a lost lesson.

More Nairobi parents now see online and centre-based homeschooling as a serious option. Many have lived with the cost and stress of the cross-city school run. Others are returning diaspora families who need a school place mid-year, or have a teenager who needs a particular A Level combination that their school does not timetable. The move from 8-4-4 to CBE has also led many families to compare the national route and the IGCSE route side by side.

Family situations we work with

Nairobi communities and nearby areas

Parklands (head office) · Karen (centre) · Westlands · Kilimani · Lavington · Kileleshwa · Runda · Muthaiga · Gigiri · Spring Valley · Loresho · Langata · South B · South C · Upper Hill · Riverside · Highridge · Kasarani · Embakasi · Syokimau

Common questions from Nairobi families

Which estates are closest to the Parklands centre?

Parklands, Westlands, Highridge, Spring Valley, Loresho, Muthaiga and Gigiri are the closest, via the Ring Road Westlands, Limuru Road and Waiyaki Way. Families from Runda and Kitisuru often come down Limuru Road or Kiambu Road outside peak hours.

Is the Karen centre practical for Langata, Lavington or Kilimani families?

Karen and Langata families usually find the Karen centre easiest. Lavington and Kilimani families often choose between Karen and Parklands depending on which way they already drive, Ngong Road or Waiyaki Way. Many simply learn online on the days the traffic is worst.

My child attends an international school in Gigiri or Karen. Can we just take tuition?

Yes. Many Nairobi students keep their school place and take one-to-one lessons with us in one or two subjects, online, at a centre or at home, at USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940 at the Oct 2026 rate).

Where are your Nairobi centres?

Our head office and learning centre is at Diamond Plaza I Annex, Parklands. Our second centre is in Karen. You are welcome to visit either centre. Call admissions on +254 745 021 212 to arrange a time.

What does online school cost in Nairobi?

Online school is from USD 423/month for Primary (≈ KSh 54,600/month at the Oct 2026 rate of about KSh 129/USD), payable termly; secondary, IGCSE, A Level and IB fees vary by curriculum and level. One-to-one tuition is USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940). Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable created and lessons started.

Can my child homeschool in person in Nairobi instead of online?

Yes. In-person homeschooling runs at our Parklands and Karen centres for families who want a daily routine and a teacher in the room. Many families mix the two: centre days plus online lessons at home.

Do you offer home tuition in my estate?

In many Nairobi estates, yes. Tuition is USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940 at the Oct 2026 rate), and some estates further from our centres carry a small transport contribution. Our Nairobi tuition page (/tuition-nairobi) lists the areas and details.

Where does my child sit IGCSE or A Level exams in Nairobi?

Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, and Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and A Level, are taken as a private candidate. In Kenya, private-candidate entries are made through British Council Kenya, whose exams team is in Nairobi; entry deadlines fall several months before each series, so check the British Council Kenya website for the current dates and fees. KNEC exams (KJSEA, KCSE) are registered through a KNEC-registered centre within KNEC's registration window.

My child is in Grade 9. Should we go to Grade 10 senior school or switch to IGCSE?

Under Competency-Based Education (CBE, formerly CBC), learners sit KPSEA at the end of Grade 6 and KJSEA at the end of Grade 9, then move to senior school in Grade 10 with a pathway (STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports Science). KCSE continues for the remaining 8-4-4 candidates. Both are run by KNEC. Both routes lead to Kenyan and international universities. At the assessment we look at your child's strengths, the subjects they want, and where they hope to study, and we explain how each route would work for them.

Is homeschooling legal in Kenya?

The Basic Education Act 2013 makes basic education compulsory, and Kenyan law does not yet set out a separate registration process for homeschooling. Homeschooling is practised in Kenya and has been discussed in the courts and in education policy. We recommend that families who are unsure take advice. We provide timetables, schemes of work and reports, which families find useful if they are asked about their child's education.

When can we start?

The January 2027 intake is open: Term 2 starts on 5 January 2027, and students can also join during the year after an assessment. The first step is to book an assessment online. Admissions reviews each request and replies within three business days.

How do we pay?

Families in Kenya usually pay by M-Pesa or bank transfer; card payments go through Paystack. Admissions sends the payment details with your invoice.

How do I contact Smartious?

Admissions: +254 745 021 212 (call or WhatsApp). Academic office: +254 182 071 920. Email: hello@smartioushomeschool.com.

More in Kenya

What parents say

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

“I am truly impressed by the level of professionalism at Smartious Homeschool and Tuition. The tutors are not only knowledgeable but also very patient and supportive. They create a comfortable learning environment where children feel free to ask questions. My child now enjoys studying and looks forward to every session.” — Google reviewer, Google review

Start with Smartious