Kenya is home to a number of prestigious schools offering the British curriculum. Most of these institutions are situated in Nairobi and its outskirts, with the fees charged running to millions of shillings.
A recent survey by International Schools Database established that Nairobi has been the most expensive destination in Africa for international education since 2019.
Various billionaires from the country have been named as the proprietors of the country’s most iconic and envied prestigious schools that are attended by the children of politicians, top businessmen and women, and other billionaires.
Here are some billionaires and wealthy families behind some of the most revered schools in Kenya.
Pius Okello and Mary Okello – Makini Group of Schools
The late Pius Okello and his Wife, Mary Okello, are the founders of the Makini Group of school. The school was started in 1978 under the name Riara Gardens Academy.
The ten most expensive schools in KenyaÂ
It had only eight students and operated from a bungalow where the founders once lived. The school has presently grown to accommodate over 2,000 students.
It has four campuses: the Ngong Road (mother) campus and the Makini Junior Academy on State House Avenue in Nairobi, Makini Junior School Migosi, and Makini School Kibos in Kisumu.
On its 40th anniversary in 2018, the school changed ownership from the Okelo’s and is now under the ADvTECH Group in a deal estimated to be worth Sh1 billion.
Daniel and Eddah Gachukia –Riara Group of Schools
The Riara Group of School was established by Daniel and Eddah Gachukia in 1974. The school has grown to earn nationwide recognition.
Gachukia is a former diplomat and a distinguished educationist, having served as a secondary school teacher and taught in several institutions, including; Kagumo High School, Thika High School, and Namilyango High School in Uganda.
He also had a stint at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he worked as the Charge d’ Affairs at the Kenya office in Paris.
Kenyatta Family -Peponi School
The school, which is located in Ruiru, is associated with the Kenyatta family. Founded in 1989, Peponi School sits at the Kenyatta family-owned Northlands City.
It is ranked one of the most expensive schools, with its fees estimated to be over Sh1 million per term and 3 million per year.
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Peter Karoki-Woodcreek School
Woodcreek was started by businessman Peter Karoki in 2018. Located along Kamiti Road in Kiambu County, Woodcreek offers the highest standard of British Curriculum education, from Kindergarten to High School.
The idea to start the school was inspired by Karoki’s daughter’s education journey. Karoki said his daughter would be picked up very early in the morning for school despite being a little kid.
He decided to invest in education to offer something different from what other schools were offering. The institution charges between Sh93,000 to Sh315,000 per term, depending on the class.
Pioneer School- Peter Munga
Pioneer Schools was started by Former Equity Bank Chairman Peter Munga. The institution, which is located in Maragua, Murang’a county, began by offering primary school education under the 8-4-4 system with a keen focus on leadership and entrepreneurship.
The school later expanded to offer high school education. Munga, who has invested heavily in the education sector, also owns Pioneer Girls School in Thika, St Paul’s Thomas Academy, and chairs the board of Pioneer International University.
