Quick answer
Kiambu has 15 national senior schools, the most of any county in this series, including Alliance High School, Alliance Girls, Mang'u High School and Kiambu High School. It also has 6 universities and 15 colleges on KUCCPS, and is Kenya's second most populous county after Nairobi.
Updated 25 October 2026
Quick answer: Kiambu County has 15 national (Cluster 1) senior schools, led by Alliance High School, Alliance Girls, Mang’u High School, Kiambu High School, Thika High School, Limuru Girls, Loreto Limuru and Maryhill Girls. In 2026, day senior schools cost parents nothing (government pays KSh 22,244 per learner a year), while boarding parents pay KSh 40,535 or KSh 53,554 a year under Gazette Notice No. 1449. The county also has 6 universities on KUCCPS, including JKUAT and Mount Kenya University, and 15 KUCCPS colleges.
Kiambu County had 2,417,735 residents in the 2019 census and its capital is Kiambu. This guide lists the national senior schools in Kiambu County, what parents pay in 2026 under the gazetted fees structure, and the universities and colleges in the county that admit students through KUCCPS.
In this guide
- Kiambu County at a glance
- About Kiambu County
- National senior schools in Kiambu County
- How school categories work
- Senior school pathways
- Senior school fees in 2026
- Junior schools and capitation
- Bursaries and scholarships
- Universities in Kiambu County
- Colleges in Kiambu County
- 2026 school calendar
- Private primary and junior schools in Kiambu Sub-County
- How to choose a school
- Related
- Frequently asked questions
Kiambu County at a glance
| County code | 022 |
| Capital | Kiambu |
| Former province | Central |
| Area | 2,449.2 km² |
| Population (2019 census) | 2,417,735 |
| Population density | about 987 people per km² |
| National senior schools | 15 |
| Universities on KUCCPS | 6 |
| Colleges on KUCCPS | 15 |
About Kiambu County
Kiambu County is the second most populous county in Kenya after Nairobi County. It is part of the Nairobi Metropolitan Area, The largest Metropolitan area in East Africa containing 15.95 Million people. Kiambu County borders Nairobi and Kajiado Counties to the South, Machakos to the East, Murang'a to the North and North East, Nyandarua to the North West, and Nakuru to the West. The county is 40% rural and 60% urban owing to Nairobi's consistent growth Northwards. The Kikuyu are the dominant tribe in the county.
National senior schools in Kiambu County
Kiambu County has 15 national (Cluster 1) senior schools:
- Alliance High School
- Alliance Girls
- Mang'u High School
- Kiambu High School
- Thika High School
- Limuru Girls
- Loreto High School Limuru
- Maryhill Girls
- Kambui Girls
- St. Francis Girls Mang'u
- St. Anne's Girls Lioki
- Precious Blood Kagwe
- PCEA Kambui School for the Hearing Impaired
- S.A. High School for the Blind
- S.A. Joytown Secondary
How school categories work
Public senior schools in Kenya fall into four categories. National schools (Cluster 1) admit learners from every county through Ministry of Education placement and have the most places in high demand. Extra-county schools admit most learners from their own region and some from other counties. County schools admit mainly from their home county, and sub-county schools, most of them day schools, serve the local area. Under the competency-based curriculum, Grade 9 learners choose senior schools and a pathway (STEM, social sciences, or arts and sports science), and the Ministry places them according to their choices, their assessment results and the places available.
Category is the one objective, published criterion we use on this page. There is no official school-by-school ranking of KCSE results, so we do not rank schools within the list.
Senior school pathways
Under the competency-based curriculum, senior school runs from Grade 10 to Grade 12. Learners follow one of three pathways: STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), social sciences, or arts and sports science. Each senior school offers a set of subject combinations within these pathways, so the right school depends on the pathway your child wants as well as on category and cost. Ask schools which combinations they offer and how many places they have in each before you make your Grade 9 choices.
Senior school fees in 2026
All public senior schools follow the single fees structure in Gazette Notice No. 1449, effective 5 January 2026. Government pays KSh 22,244 per learner per year in every public senior school, and parents pay the boarding share.
| Category | Government (KSh/yr) | Parent (KSh/yr) | Total (KSh/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day senior school | 22,244 | 0 | 22,244 |
| Boarding (KSh 53,554 cap) | 22,244 | 53,554 | 75,798 |
| Boarding (KSh 40,535 cap) | 22,244 | 40,535 | 62,779 |
| Special needs schools | 57,974 | 12,790 | 70,764 |
Fees are paid over the three terms in the ratio 50:30:20, so a parent at a KSh 53,554 school pays KSh 26,777 in Term 1, KSh 16,066 in Term 2 and KSh 10,711 in Term 3. No public school may charge levies outside the gazetted structure. See senior school fees 2026 for the full vote-head breakdown.
Junior schools and capitation
Public junior schools (Grades 7–9) are day schools, most of them hosted in primary schools, and are funded by government capitation released to schools in termly instalments. Senior school capitation is KSh 22,244 per learner a year under the 2026 gazette. Parents of day learners should not be asked for tuition fees, though schools may ask for uniforms and personal items. See school capitation 2026.
Bursaries and scholarships
Families who struggle with boarding fees can apply for help from several sources. The National Government Constituencies Development Fund (NG-CDF) and county governments run bursary schemes for needy secondary learners, usually with applications through the constituency or ward office. The Ministry of Education’s Elimu Scholarship Programme and private schemes such as Equity Group Foundation’s Wings to Fly support bright learners from poor households. Apply early, keep copies of fee statements and the school’s fee structure, and ask the school bursar which bursaries its learners usually receive.
Universities in Kiambu County
6 universities in Kiambu County list degree programmes on the KUCCPS placement portal:
| University | Type | Degree programmes on KUCCPS |
|---|---|---|
| Gretsa University | Private | 6 |
| Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | Public | 102 |
| Mama Ngina University College | Public | 18 |
| Mount Kenya University | Private | 50 |
| Presbyterian University of East Africa | Private | 11 |
| St Pauls University | Private | 21 |
See the KUCCPS cut-off points 2025 for each programme.
Most competitive degree programmes in Kiambu County
| Programme | University | 2025 cut-off |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 45.812 |
| Bachelor of Science in Mechatronic Engineering | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 45.109 |
| Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery | Mount Kenya University | 45.075 |
| Bachelor of Pharmacy | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 44.644 |
| Bachelor of Science in Computer Science | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 44.205 |
| Bachelor of Science Clinical Medicine | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 43.821 |
| Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 43.265 |
| Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 43.180 |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 43.173 |
| Bachelor of Science in Radiography | Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology | 43.036 |
Colleges in Kiambu County
15 colleges in Kiambu County, including technical training institutes, national polytechnics and medical training college campuses, admit students through KUCCPS:
| College | Type | Ministry |
|---|---|---|
| Gatundu South Technical and Vocational College | Public | Ministry of Education |
| Githunguri Technical & Vocational College | Public | Ministry of Education |
| Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Tvet Institute | Public | University TVET |
| Kenya Medical Training College – Gatundu – Mutunguru Satellite Campus | Public | Ministry of Health |
| Kenya Medical Training College – Gatundu Campus | Public | Ministry of Health |
| Kenya Medical Training College – Karuri Campus | Public | Ministry of Health |
| Kenya Medical Training College – Thika Campus | Public | Ministry of Health |
| Kiambu National Polytechnic | Public | Ministry of Education |
| Lari Technical and Vocational College | Public | Ministry of Education |
| Limuru Technical and Vocational College | Public | Ministry of Education |
| Nachu Technical and Vocational College | Public | Ministry of Education |
| Ruiru Technical and Vocational College | Public | Ministry of Education |
| St. John's Teachers Training College – Kilimambogo | Public | Ministry of Education |
| Thika Technical Training Institute | Public | Ministry of Education |
| Thogoto Teachers Training College | Public | Ministry of Education |
Public TVET fees are explained on TVET fees in Kenya 2026.
2026 school calendar
| Term | Opens | Half-term | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term 1 | 5 January | 25 February – 1 March | 2 April |
| Term 2 | 27 April | 24 – 28 June | 31 July |
| Term 3 | 24 August | 23 October |
KCSE runs from 2 to 20 November 2026. Full dates are on the 2026 school calendar page.
Private primary and junior schools in Kiambu Sub-County
Beyond the national schools, Kiambu Sub-County has dozens of registered private primary and junior schools. Parents often search for Green Reed Academy, Green Angels Academy, Chantilly Schools, Golf View School, Johari School, Laureate Primary School and PCEA Kiambu Presbyterian Academy, all listed as private primary schools in Kiambu Sub-County in the Ministry of Education school register. Private schools set their own fees, so ask each school for its 2026 fee structure and confirm it is registered before paying.
How to choose a school
- Check the school’s category and whether it is day or boarding, which sets the maximum fee.
- Ask for the fee structure on school letterhead and compare it with the gazetted caps.
- Confirm which senior school pathways and subject combinations the school offers.
- Consider travel distance and cost for day schools, and visiting arrangements for boarding schools.
- Pay fees only into the school’s official bank account or paybill, never to an individual.
Related
School fees in Kenya hub · University and TVET fees · KUCCPS cut-off points
Frequently asked questions
Which are the national schools in Kiambu County?
Alliance High School, Alliance Girls, Mang’u High School, Kiambu High School, Thika High School, Limuru Girls, Loreto High School Limuru, Maryhill Girls, Kambui Girls, St. Francis Girls Mang’u, St. Anne’s Girls Lioki, Precious Blood Kagwe, PCEA Kambui School for the Hearing Impaired, S.A. High School for the Blind, S.A. Joytown Secondary.
How much do boarding schools in Kiambu County charge in 2026?
At most KSh 53,554 or KSh 40,535 a year for parents, depending on the school’s approved cap; public day schools are free.
How many universities are in Kiambu County?
6 universities in Kiambu County admit students through KUCCPS.
What is the capital of Kiambu County?
Kiambu.
What was the population of Kiambu County in 2019?
2,417,735 people, according to the 2019 census.
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