Nairobi County is one of Kenya’s 47 counties, and it was formed due to the new 2010 constitution. It is also one of the Kenyan counties with a vast pool of resources, and when it comes to the education sector, the county is leading with some Known schools (Both public and Private). The focus of this guide, however, will be on the leading Private schools in Nairobi County. Below, all that you need to know has been covered.
A bright future for any child starts with having a solid foundation, especially when it comes to the choice of school that one goes to. Nairobi county has at least 1000 private schools broken down, with 768 of them in the ECDE, 907 Primary, and 283 private schools (Eastleigh Voice). Therefore, with these numbers, I understand that it can be frustrating to choose the right school. Below, we have only covered the top 20 primary and secondary schools that many parents and students have preferred.
1. Strathmore School
Strathmore School is a leading private school for boys, offering education at both the primary and secondary levels. The school was started in March 1961, and today, it has risen to be not only the best school in Nairobi but the whole country. The results from KCPE in 2023 were quite impressive, as were the 2023 KCSE results, which produced a mean score of 10.08.
The 2025 admission for Strathmore School is now open, and you can apply to join by getting the admissions form physically from the school. You can reach the school using the contacts below:
- Email: [email protected]
- Tel: +254722221221, +254718222222, +254733937945
- P. O. Box: 25095-00603 NAIROBI, KENYA
- Website: www.strathmore.ac.ke
2. Light Academy Nairobi
The Light Academy Nairobi, as the name suggests, is located in Nairobi County as well as in Mombasa County. The school is located off Ngong Road in Nairobi, and it offers both the international IGCSE and 8-4-4 curricula.
Joining the school will require you to have a minimum of 350 Marks, and you must have sat and done your interview and passed. Since it is Private, the fee structure is a bit high; you can expect to pay between Ksh 130,000 and Ksh 195,000 just as a tuition fee. You can get a complete fee structure on the school’s website using the link.
The school’s Nairobi branches are in Karen, Lavington, and Lenana. Also, you can contact the school using the contacts below:
- P. O. Box: 13413 – 00100
- Address: KAREN C, OFF LANG’ATA ROAD.
- Phone: +254 724100000
- Email: [email protected]
3. Kianda School
Kianda School is a private girls’ primary and secondary school founded in 1977. It started with a total of 4o students, but now the school has more than 830 students at both the Primary and secondary levels. Over the years, Kianda School has been ranked among the top 10 girls’ schools in Kenya in the national examinations.
The school’s contacts and address are as follows:
- P. O. Box: 48328-00100, GPO Nairobi Kenya
- Email: [email protected]
- Tel: 0733 846 959, 020 807 7381,020 2477 381,
- Location: Kabarsiran Avenue, Off Waiyaki Way, Opposite CAK
- Website: kiandaschool.ac.ke
4. Riara Springs Girls’ High School
Riara Springs Girls’ High School was founded in 2000 by Dr (Mrs) Eddah W. Gachukia with the aim of empowering girls in the country. The school is not only focused on high school education, but it also has several branches in Nairobi, such as the Riara Spring Girls group of schools.
The school offers the Kenyan 8-4-4 curriculum, with computer studies being compulsory for Form 1 and Form 2 students. Admission forms can be obtained by directly visiting the school’s residences.
- PO BOX: 21389 – 00505 Nairobi
- Call: 0703 038 100/200
- Email: [email protected]
5. Makini Schools
Makini Schools, established in 1978, is one of the best schools in Kenya. It was founded by Late Dr. Pius Okelo and Dr. Mary Okelo in Nairobi, but they have branches in Kisumu County, also.
Makini group of schools is both a bog and a girls’ group of schools offering both international and competency-based curricula in Kenya. The admission process and fee structure for the school can be found on the school’s website.
- Phone: 020 3877138, 020 3871874, (+254) 748 651 791
- Email: [email protected], [email protected]
- WhatsApp: (+254) 791 781 370 or 0713 149 559
6. Consolata School Nairobi
The Consolata School is another private school in Nairobi offering ECDE, primary, and secondary education. It is a Catholic school sponsored mainly by the Consolata missionaries. The school follows Kenya’s 8-4-4 and Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) and offers preschool, primary, and secondary education.
Join the school is easy all you need to do is review the school’s admission requirements and obtain the admission form at the school headquarters in the Nairobi Westlands Area.
- Address: Westlands, Chiromo Road
- PO Box: 14538/00800 Nairobi, Kenya
- Reception: 0739 499014
- Nursery: 0723773132
- Primary: 0732 557004
- Secondary: 0739 499013
7. The Aga Khan High School
The Aga Khan High School is a day Private secondary school. It is part of the Aga Khan Education Services, which operates over 200 schools across the globe. It was founded in 1961 and joining this place of learning means you have to score above 300 marks in KCPE exams. The school features the 8-4-4 Kenya National Curriculum from Form 1 to Form 4, but there are plans to start having the CBC.
- Address: Waiyaki Way, Nairobi
- PO Box: 42171-00100 Nairobi KENYA
- Phone: +254 736 801 580
8.Loreto Convent Msongari
Loreto Convent Msongari is a private girls’ school and perhaps the oldest private school in the country. It was funded by the Loreto sisters in 1921, and by 1975, it had been a primary and secondary school. Today, the school has 6o certified teachers and more than 2000 students who are currently enrolled.
To Join Loreto Msongari, go through the school curriculum on their official website and then obtain the application forms by visiting the school personally. Alternatively, you can contact them directly using the contacts below
- Adress: Loreto Convent Valle Road, Nairobi
- Secondary: +254724921634
- Primary: +254707592698
- Primary Email:[email protected]
- Secondary Email:[email protected]
9. St Mary’s School
The St Mary’s School is a boy’s private primary and secondary academy in Nairobi. It was founded in 1939 and is sponsored by the Roman Catholic Church. They offer programs for Junior schools focusing on CBC and Senior schools focusing on the International Baccalaureate.
The application process can be done directly via the school’s website, or you can also opt to download the application form available online, fill it out, and submit it to the school. However, to be admitted to the school, you must sit and pass the interview test. If you pass, you will Pick the admission letter, Fee structure and Uniform list from the school.
- PO BOX: 40580 00100 Nairobi
- Tel: +254-721-490140/ + 254-735-337809/ 254-020-4444569
- Email: [email protected]
10. St Hannah’s Girls’ High School
St Hannah’s Girls’ High School is a private boarding school for boys and girls in Karen, Nairobi. It offers Primary and secondary education, featuring the 8-4-4 curriculum and the Competency-based Curriculum ( CBC). The 2025 admissions are currently ongoing, and you can apply directly from the school’s website link
- P.O Box: 46988, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
- Girls High School: 020-2112660, 0721 259102
- Boys High School: 020 2112656, 0716 205512
11. The Nairobi Leadership Academy
The Nairobi Leadership Academy is a private boarding and day school located at the heart of Nairobi County. It offers education in the Preschool, Primary and secondary education levels, featuring both the 8-4-4 and IGCSE curricula.
- P.O BOX: 1953-00100,Mugoya Phase III
- Address: South C, Nairobi-Kenya
- Phone: +254 790 000 003 / +254 742 749 074
- Email: [email protected] | [email protected]
- Website: www.nla.sc.ke
12. Nairobi Muslim Academy
As the name suggests, the Nairobi Muslim academic is a Private school in Nairobi that mainly advocates for Muslim religion. The school was founded in 1995 and offers education from the earlier years, from Middle school to junior and secondary level.
The academy was among the best-performing KCSE schools in the region, with an average Meab grade of 8.64 in the 2023 KCSE exams. The school’s fee structure varies depending on the education level, and you can find the whole fee structure for 2025 on the school’s website. The admission process also starts with obtaining and submitting forms online to the school.
- Phone: +254 20 6009140
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Muhoho Avenue, South C, Nairobi
13. Sunshine Secondary School
Sunshine is a Christian private school in Nairobi that Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi established in 1995. It has schools for the kindergarten, lower primary and Junior Secondary schools. Sunshine is already accepting applications for 2025, which can be done online or by visiting the school individually for registration.
- ADDRESS: PO Box 56890 – 00200, Nairobi Langata Road,
- Phone: +254 725668366, +254 770562570
- Email: [email protected]
14. Mount Laverna Secondary School
It is a Christian girls’ high school established in 2005. Mount Laverna is located in Kasarani Constituency and is also one of the best-performing private high schools in Nairobi County. It follows the Kenyan 8-4-4 education system.
- Phone: +254 722 544 951
- Email: [email protected]
- Location: Kasarani
15. St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School
St. Aloysius Gonzaga Secondary School is a Catholic high school that offers education to needy and orphaned students. Before joining the school, students must at least serve in their communities for six months to build empathy and a spirit of giving back.
- Phone: +254-715-409-166 / 0113534760
- Email: [email protected]
- Location: Langata, Chweya Road, off Ngong Langata
16. Wamy High School
Wamy School is another top-performing Islamic private school in South B, Nairobi, Kenya. The school uses both the 8-4-4 and the competency-based curriculum. Admission is only open to students who have scored above 320 marks in the KCPE, and one can get the application forms through the school website, fill them out, and submit them officially to the school for processing.
- Adreess: Viwandani – Mombasa Road Nairobi – Kenya
- Phone: +254 792 717 082
- Email: [email protected]
17. St. Elizabeth Girls High School
The school is located in Nairobi county but also has a branch in Mombasa county. In Nairobi it is located about 1km from the Karen shopping centre on Tree Lane off Ngong Road. They offer both the 8-4-4 and IGCSE curricula. To join St. Elizabeth Girls High School, you need to personally visit the university to collect the admissions form and make your applications
- Phone: +254722873115
- Email: [email protected]
- Location: Tree Lane, Off Ngong Road
18. German School Nairobi
The German School Nairobi, also known as Deutsche Schule Nairobi, is a German international school in Nairobi, Kenya. It has students in kindergarten, primary school, and secondary school. Anyone can apply to join the school, including students from low-income families, with an option to apply for the School fee reduction. Similarly, the application forms can be found on the school’s website; just download it, fill it and submit it to the school so you can be admitted.
- Phone: +254 (0)721-25 84 17
- Email: [email protected]
- Location: Parklands/Highridge, Limuru Road
19. Oshwal Academy Nairobi
The Oshwal Academy was established in 1950 in Nairobi, but today, it also has one more ranch in Mombasa. It has schools from the Primary, Nursery, Junior, and Senior high school. Oshwal Academy only uses the British National Curriculum. At the end of it, all the students have to sit for the A-level exams
- Phone: +254 (0) 721 821962/+254 (0) 787 157166
- Location: Wambugu Lane, Off Parklands Road
20. Brookhouse School
Brookhouse School is a well-reputed Private school in Nairobi, the entire East African region, and even abroad. The school was founded in 1981 by the Puxley family, and by 2020, the school was already the best IGCSE school in Kenya. They offer education from Kindergarten to primary and secondary school.
The application process can be done through the website. Head to the admission section and Click on the Campus you want to go to. Fill in the application form with your child’s report card attached and Submit it. If everything goes well, your child must sit for the assessment test and interview. By the way, the registration fee will be Ksh 45,00 per child. Details on fees for any level of education can also be found on the website.
- Phone: 0726 855 858/ 0742 550 647
- Email: [email protected]
- Location: Off Kangundo Road, Kamulu
How to Choose the Best Private School
Below are the criteria that you must pay attention to while selecting a private school in Nairobi.
1. Academic Performance
How best a school performs is the number one factor that you should pay attention too. And since most private schools either feature the IGCSE or the Kenyan curriculum, analyze them and see how they compete against each other before you make your choice.
2. Facilities & Resources
Well, it’s not just academic excellence which makes a school best for your four children. Children are gifted differently and, therefore, pay attention to other factors, such as the facilities that offer co-curriculum activities. These all are what will mold a child to become a better person in society by making them all rounded.
4. Reputation & Alumni Success
Lastly, check what firmer students have today about the school. Go through the school website, read testimonials, and ensure that you choose schools that will have a significant impact on your child’s education journey.
Conclusion
And there you have it: Parents and students. We hope that this article has given you a clear overview of some of the best private schools in the Nairobi region. We may not have listed all the schools, and thus, we encourage you to do further research before making your own decision. All the best from us, and if you need any assistance, let us interact below in the comments section.
