Education System
Kenyans had access to education as far back as 1728 with a Swahili manuscript Utendi wa Tambuka (Book of Heraclius) attesting to the fact. One of the earliest Mission schools in the country was set up at Rabai in 1846. Before independence elementary education was based on the colonial system of education.
Kenya invested heavily in expanding its education system after independence. In 1967, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, formed the East African Community and adopted a single system of education, the 7-4-2-3, which consisted of 7 years of primary education, 4 years of secondary education, 2 years of high school and 3–5 years of university education. With the collapse of the East African community in 1977, Kenya continued with the same system of education until 1985.
The 8-4-4 system (8 years of primary, 4 years of secondary, and 4 years of university) was introduced in 1985, aiming to provide universal primary education and increase access to secondary and higher education.
In 2003, the Government introduced free primary education, aiming to increase enrollment and reduce disparities. In 2017, a new curriculum, Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), was implemented, focusing on skills development, critical thinking, and 21st-century learning.
There are a number of schools in Kenya, including some international schools which incorporate international systems of education like American, British, French and German systems.
The Commission for University Education (CUE) was established under the Universities Act, No. 42 of 2012, as the successor to the Commission for Higher Education. It is the Government agency mandated to regulate university education in Kenya.
All foreign universities that wish to collaborate with institutions in Kenya to offer university education should apply to the Commission for University Education for authority to collaborate. Reference should be made to the Universities Regulations, 2014. The Universities Regulations, 2014 were gazetted on 12th June 2014 and are currently in force.
See the list of accredited universities in Kenya here
Academic programmes offered in Kenyan university level institutions lead to the award of bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, doctoral degrees, postgraduate diplomas and certificates, diplomas and certificates as awarded by the institutions.
The list of approved academic programmes as at July 2024 can be downloaded here.
Previously, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was primarily focused on providing low-skilled labour for the agricultural and industrial sectors. It was often seen as an alternative for those who did not pursue university education.
In recent decades, Kenya has recognized the vital role of TVET in addressing the skills gap, promoting entrepreneurship, and empowering youth. The government has implemented policies and initiatives to strengthen the TVET system.
TVET is offered by a diverse range of institutions:
TVET Institutes: These are dedicated institutions offering specialized technical and vocational programmes.
Polytechnics: These offer diploma-level courses in various technical and engineering fields.
Universities: Some universities have departments offering technical and vocational programmes.
Private Training Institutions: These play a crucial role in providing skills-based training.
