Online School & Homeschool in Kenya

Live online Cambridge IGCSE, A-Level, Pearson Edexcel, IB Diploma and American AP plus CBE (CBC), for Kenyan families in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Thika and Kiambu, and for Kenyan families abroad. From USD 423/month for Primary (≈ KSh 54,600, Oct 2026 rate), payable termly. January 2027 intake: Term 2 starts 5 January 2027.

The Brookhouse / Braeburn / Aga Khan Academy / Hillcrest / GEMS Cambridge / Strathmore / Pembroke House alternative. Built for Kenyan families across all 47 counties — plus Kenyan diaspora globally seeking curriculum continuity for return home. Founded in Nairobi in 2018, with our head office at Diamond Plaza I Parklands Annex, and a second centre in Karen West (Mokoyeti Road).

Online homeschooling across Kenya

Seven Kenyan city pages: Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Thika and Kiambu. Each covers local estates, the school run, where to sit exams, CBE and Grade 10 choices, fees and the questions parents in that city ask.

Homeschool laws and regulation in Kenya

What Kenyan families should know about the law, the national curriculum, exams and university entry. This is general information, not legal advice.

The law on homeschooling

The Basic Education Act 2013 makes basic education compulsory. 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. Families who are unsure should take advice. Smartious provides timetables, schemes of work and reports.

CBE (CBC) and the move to senior school

Competency-Based Education (CBE, formerly CBC) is overseen by the Ministry of Education with curriculum designs from KICD. 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 on a pathway: STEM, Social Sciences, or Arts and Sports Science. KCSE continues for the remaining 8-4-4 candidates. KNEC runs all of these assessments.

Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel as a private candidate

Home-educated and online students take Cambridge IGCSE and A Level, or Pearson Edexcel International GCSE and A Level, as private candidates. In Kenya, 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 current dates and fees.

University entry in Kenya

Kenyan universities admit students with IGCSE and A Level results. Applicants are usually asked for an equivalence or recognition letter from the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), and each programme sets its own requirements. Check with the admissions office early.

Kenyan families abroad

Families abroad who plan to return can keep their children on the same Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel or IB route online, in East Africa Time or with recordings, and continue after the move without changing curriculum.

Why Kenya families choose Smartious

Nairobi-based — we are Kenyan

Smartious was founded in Nairobi in 2018. Our head office and learning centre is at Diamond Plaza I Parklands Annex, and we have a second centre in Karen West (Mokoyeti Road). Founded by Alfred Ouko, University of Nairobi-trained Mathematics and Physics educator. We are Kenyan-built, Kenyan-led, and Kenyan-serving — with global reach to 40+ countries.

Brookhouse / Braeburn / Aga Khan Academy alternative pricing

Brookhouse KES 1.6M-2.4M/year, Braeburn KES 1.4M-2.2M/year, Aga Khan Academy KES 1.8M-2.6M/year, GEMS Cambridge KES 1.4M-2.0M/year, Hillcrest KES 1.5M-2.2M/year. Smartious online school is from USD 423/month for Primary (≈ KSh 54,600 at the Oct 2026 rate), payable termly; fees vary by curriculum and level.

Accessible from any of Kenya's 47 counties

Top Cambridge schools are concentrated in Nairobi (Karen, Runda, Westlands) and a few other major towns. For families in Kisumu, Eldoret, Kakamega, Meru, Nyeri, Machakos, Kitui, Kilifi, Lamu, Garissa, Lodwar — and all other Kenyan counties — Cambridge international school access historically required Nairobi relocation. Smartious eliminates this — Cambridge curriculum from any Kenyan county with reliable internet.

EAT live class scheduling — exact match Kenyan school hours

Live classes run in East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3), during normal Kenyan school hours. Same time zone whether you're in Nairobi Karen, Mombasa Nyali, Kisumu Milimani, or Eldoret town.

Five curricula — CBC plus four international

Smartious delivers CBC (Kenyan national), Cambridge IGCSE/A-Level (British), Pearson Edexcel, IB Diploma, plus American AP. Families can choose national curriculum (CBC) for domestic Kenyan university pathways, international curriculum (Cambridge/IB/American) for global university pathways, or combine for maximum optionality.

Live teachers, not pre-recorded video

Every Smartious class is taught live by a qualified subject teacher, and every lesson is recorded for review. Real-time questions, real-time clarifications. Distinct from pre-recorded online providers.

Diaspora-friendly — global delivery for Kenyan families abroad

For Kenyan diaspora families in UK, US, Canada, Australia, UAE, South Africa, Germany, Smartious provides curriculum continuity for eventual return home. Children continue international curriculum without disruption.

Fees and admission

From USD 423/month for Primary, payable termly; varies by curriculum and level. One-to-one tuition: USD 15/hour.

More for Kenyan families

Frequently asked questions

How much does homeschooling cost in Kenya?

With Smartious, 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, and we confirm them after the assessment. One-to-one tuition is USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940). Exam board entry fees (British Council Kenya or KNEC) are paid separately. Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable created and lessons started.

How does Smartious compare to Brookhouse, Braeburn, Aga Khan Academy, GEMS Cambridge, Hillcrest, Strathmore?

Top Cambridge schools in Kenya — Brookhouse (KES 1.6M-2.4M/year), Braeburn (KES 1.4M-2.2M/year), Aga Khan Academy (KES 1.8M-2.6M/year — IB), GEMS Cambridge International School (KES 1.4M-2.0M/year), Hillcrest International (KES 1.5M-2.2M/year), Strathmore School (KES 800K-1.4M/year) — provide physical campus education with established sports, arts, and pastoral programmes. Smartious provides live online Cambridge, IB, American or CBE (CBC) teaching from USD 423/month for Primary (≈ KSh 54,600 at the Oct 2026 rate), payable termly; fees vary by curriculum and level. The trade-off: no full campus, but the same exam boards and qualifications, small live classes, and access from any county, with centres in Parklands and Karen West for Nairobi families.

My family lives outside Nairobi (Mombasa / Kisumu / Eldoret / Kakamega / Meru / Nyeri / rural Kenya). How does Smartious work?

Smartious works from any Kenyan county with reliable internet — Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Kakamega, Meru, Nyeri, Machakos, Kitui, Kilifi, Malindi, Lamu, Garissa, Kitale, Lodwar — every county. Live online classes deliver in East Africa Time matching standard Kenyan school hours nationally. Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel private-candidate entries go through British Council Kenya, whose exams team is in Nairobi; families outside Nairobi should check the venue for their series early and plan any travel. Safaricom and Airtel 4G LTE plus growing fibre coverage make live online learning viable across most of Kenya.

Should I choose CBC, 8-4-4, or Cambridge IGCSE/A-Level?

It depends on where your child hopes to study and how they learn best. Under CBE (CBC), learners sit KJSEA at the end of Grade 9 and move to senior school in Grade 10 with a pathway; KCSE continues for the remaining 8-4-4 candidates. Cambridge IGCSE and A Level are accepted by Kenyan universities (usually with a KNQA equivalence letter) and are widely recognised abroad. Smartious teaches both routes, and many families plan a switch from CBE to IGCSE at Year 10. We explain the options for your child at the assessment.

Can my Kenyan child apply to UoN, Strathmore, USIU-Africa, Aga Khan University with Cambridge qualifications?

Kenyan universities, including the University of Nairobi, Strathmore, USIU-Africa, Kenyatta University and Aga Khan University, admit students with Cambridge IGCSE and A Level results. Applicants are usually asked for an equivalence or recognition letter from the Kenya National Qualifications Authority (KNQA), and each programme sets its own subject and grade requirements, so check with the university's admissions office early.

How does Smartious work for Kenyan diaspora families considering return home?

For Kenyan diaspora families in UK, US, Canada, Australia, UAE, South Africa, Germany, considering return to Kenya over 2-5 year timelines, Smartious provides curriculum continuity. Children continue Cambridge IGCSE/A-Level, IB Diploma, or American curriculum while abroad, with seamless continuation upon return to Kenya (either continued Smartious enrolment from any Kenyan county or transition to Kenyan international school like Brookhouse, Braeburn). No curriculum bridging required.

Will my child miss out on sports, arts, and social development without a physical school?

A physical school provides a complete daily environment that an online programme does not replicate. However, Kenyan families combine Smartious academic instruction with sports clubs (athletics — Kenya has world-class running culture, football, rugby, swimming, equestrian, golf), music academies, scouts, debate, plus religious community involvement. Smartious classes themselves provide live peer interaction across 40+ countries.

Are Smartious teachers qualified to deliver Cambridge curriculum?

Yes. Smartious teachers are qualified subject specialists who teach the Cambridge, Pearson Edexcel, IB, American and CBE programmes they deliver. They teach from Nairobi, at our Parklands and Karen West centres.

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. Families who are unsure should take advice. Smartious provides timetables, schemes of work, assessments and termly reports, which families find useful if they are asked about their child's education.

How does payment work — KES or USD?

Fees are set in USD: 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; fees vary by curriculum and level. One-to-one tuition is USD 15/hour (≈ KSh 1,940). Families in Kenya usually pay by M-Pesa or bank transfer, and card payments go through Paystack. Fees are non-refundable once the assessment is done, the timetable created and lessons started.

How reliable is internet connectivity for live online learning in Kenya?

Safaricom 4G LTE and growing 5G provides excellent connectivity across Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and all major Kenyan cities. Fibre internet (Safaricom Home Fibre, Zuku, Faiba) is increasingly available in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret. Airtel Kenya provides additional coverage. For more rural locations (Kitui, Marsabit, Turkana, parts of Garissa), Starlink satellite provides reliable backup. Smartious recorded sessions ensure no lost lessons regardless of connectivity events.

Where do Kenyan students sit Cambridge IGCSE and A-Level examinations?

Cambridge and Pearson Edexcel exams are taken as a private candidate, with entries made through British Council Kenya, whose exams team is in Nairobi. Cambridge runs May/June and October/November series, and entry deadlines fall several months before each series, so check the British Council Kenya website for current dates and fees. KJSEA and KCSE are run by KNEC and registered through a KNEC-registered centre.

How do we know if Smartious is the right fit for our family?

Book a free consultation. We will talk through your child's current grade or year, the universities they may aim for, your county and routine, and whether CBE or an international curriculum fits best. We will tell you honestly if another option suits your family better. You can also visit our Parklands or Karen West centre. Admissions: +254 745 021 212. Academic office: +254 182 071 920. Email: hello@smartioushomeschool.com. The January 2027 intake is open: Term 2 starts on 5 January 2027.

How do live online classes work?

Students follow a weekly timetable of live lessons with qualified teachers, in small groups or one to one, and every lesson is recorded for catch-up. Families receive assessments and termly reports. Each student starts with a placement assessment, so we can place them at the right level.

When is the next intake?

The January 2027 intake is open: Term 2 starts on 5 January 2027. Students can also join during the year after an assessment.

How do we contact Smartious?

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

Guides for families in this country

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

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