Can a school refuse to admit my child?
Basic Education Act, 2013; Constitution of Kenya · sources read 4 Oct 2026
A public school may not deny your child admission, and no school may turn a child away because of ethnicity, sex, religion, disability, age, language or similar grounds. If a public school refuses, tell the County Education Board, which must review the decision.
- Where
- The County Education Board in your county
Steps
- If a public school refuses your child, notify the County Education Board of the decision.
- The Board must review the school's decision.
Watch out
- No birth certificate? A child cannot be refused for lack of proof of age.
- Public schools may not charge any admission fee.
- A public school may not use an admission test to pick pupils, only to place a child at the right level.
- A school registered for boys only or girls only can still admit by gender.
Who this covers
- Every child has a right to free and compulsory basic education
- Any child seeking admission to a school
Official sources (2)
- Basic Education Act (Cap. 211, formerly No. 14 of 2013) new.kenyalaw.org · read 4 Oct 2026
- Constitution of Kenya, 2010 new.kenyalaw.org · read 2 Oct 2026