Schools Reopen Amid High Back-to-School Costs

Kenya, 5 January 2026 - As schools across Kenya reopened for the first term of the 2026 academic year on Monday, January 5, families braced for another round of financial strain, with the back-to-school rush exposing deep pressure on already stretched household budgets.

From crowded bookshops to chaotic transport hubs, the reopening underscored how the high cost of living continues to stretch parents thin.

Across major towns and cities, including Nakuru, Nairobi, Kisumu and Kakamega, parents were seen scouting for textbooks, uniforms and supplies, often opting for second-hand items or cutting corners to cope with soaring prices.

Many families said income stagnation and inflation have made it difficult to afford basic school requirements, even with government capitation funds meant to ease tuition burdens.

For Joakim Mwaura, a father of two from Nakuru with one child in high school and another entering Grade 6, the return to school came with tough choices. “I’ve had to reuse last year’s uniforms where possible and cut back on new books,” Mwaura said. “The economy is too harsh, and everything seems to cost more than it did before.”

His worry reflects a trend seen in bookshops along key retail corridors, where traders reported slow sales and increased demand for cheaper, second-hand items.

Similarly, George Waithagu, a father of two school-going children, said he has been forced to make difficult financial trade-offs. “We spent heavily during Christmas, and now school costs have doubled our challenges,” he said. “Uniforms, books, and transport fares have all gone up, but salaries haven’t.” Waithagu added that bus fares had nearly doubled, complicating his efforts to send his children back to school on time.

For single mothers like Assumpta Gatama, the back-to-school season has been particularly daunting.

With three children to support, Gatama said she had to turn to second-hand uniform markets and cut back on essentials just to keep her children in class. “Some days it feels like you’re juggling between food on the table and school fees,” Gatama said. “I’m grateful for capitation funds, but there are still so many extra costs, exercise books, transport, and levies, that eat into our limited income.”

Bookshop operators and street vendors confirmed subdued business, noting that many parents now delayed purchases or sought bargains in informal markets.

On Tom Mboya Street in Nairobi, traders said customers often compared prices across shops before buying, a stark contrast to earlier seasons when demand was brisk.