How lack of school fees changed King Kaka’s life

King Kaka is a testament of the truth that motivation comes from different variables in life. Sometimes, actually, a lot of times, it comes from poverty. When you lack money, you lack ven basic esteem and respect.

6 of the most expensive schools in Kenya

Growing up, the rapper didn’t have a lot. Infact, when he tells his own story, he paints the picture of just how acutely aware children usually are of the lack their family deals with.

And King Kaka knew he wanted to change things. While most people who grew up around him would turn to crime, he decided on a better, albeit tougher strategy.

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King Kaka who was formerly known as Rabbit decided to focus on his books. And he hit them so hard, that he managed to earn himself a scholarship.

And the result of that hard work? He managed to pay for his own education. What do I mean? He got a full scholarship… At a public high school. Let that sink in. Talk about being a young high achiever.

Kenyan celebs who attended the most expensive schools in Kenya

But in truth, you shouldn’t want to have your child struggle to pay their own way through school. Unlike King Kaka’s situation, you should free up your child from all the anxiety that comes from knowing they cannot afford school fees by planning ahead.

Partner with Co-op Bank to help your child become the best version of themselves. Why? Because school fees are all about planning. You should not wake up to realize that fees is due tomorrow and you had not planned for this eventuality even though you’ve lived large for some long holiday weekend. You need a partner who can help you map out the entire financial plan and ensure you get the best possible option for your child(ren).

With the Co-op Bank innovations and partnerships, you can pay school fees and buy new uniforms without having to bear the risk of carrying huge sums of money around. I mean, it would really be a comedy of tragedies if you misplaced that money or it was liberated from you right?

In addition to this, you can also load up your child’s pocket money to their Co-op Bank Pre-paid.

What are the benefits of a Co-op Bank Prepaid card?

  • No need for your child to carry loads of pocket money as they head to school, you can simply load it in the Co-op Prepaid card which is safer than carrying cash.
  • The student will be able to pay for items at their school canteens at No Extra cost.
  • Parents will be able to track their students sending by getting a Mini statement of the card at a Co-op Kwa Jirani agent or via SMS alerts.
  • You no longer need to travel all the way to the school to hand over money to your child, you can simply load the card at any Co-op Kwa Jirani agent.
  • The students are also able to withdraw money using the card from any Co-op ATMs or Co-op Kwa Jirani agents outside school.
  • You dont need an account with Co-op bank to enjoy the benefits of the card.
  • No extra charges will be incurred in transactions using the card.

Click here to find out more.

6 of the most expensive schools in Kenya

Education is the foundation every child needs to make something out of their lives. At school, children not only learn academic subjects but also how to interact with their peers.

Kenyan celebs who attended the most expensive schools in Kenya

Schools allow children to learn how to integrate in society and what is normal and what isn’t among their peers. They also learn intrinsic skills and facts about themselves and their personalities.

But just like with everything in life, there are different buy-in levels to education. Some can only afford the free option offered at government schools while others go for a literal gold-standard of education.

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And some schools are truly expensive. Some schools charge enough school fees for you to build a home after just two years of your child being in attendance. Let’s check out which Kenyan schools are the most expensive.

1. International School of Kenya (ISK)

The school has almost 1000 students from over 60. The institution is a non-profit centre that started as a joint partnership between the Canadian and United States governments. ISK offers the North American accredited diploma curriculum. New students pay an admission fee of $400 and a one-time capital levy of $10,00, which caters for capital expenses. The tuition fee ranges between $16,974 for kindergarten kids and $32,543 for Grades 11 and 12.

2. Greensteds International School

Greensteds is a co-educational day and boarding school offering the British curriculum from early years’ students to A level. The school is in Nakuru County, 16km from Nakuru town, and a few minutes from Nakuru National Park. Students joining the playgroup level will pay a fee of KShs 49,500.
In the first and second year, students pay a whopping KShs 131,000, while boarders who join at the same level pay KShs 401,500.
Grade 12 and 13 boarding students pay KShs 848,000 per term. The boarding fee is inclusive of accommodation, meals and tuition.

3. St Andrew’s Turi

This school is in Turi, a hidden spot between Nakuru and Kericho. St. Andrews Turi is famous for its high-quality education and firm Christian values. The institution’s core values are compassion, integrity and courage. Nursery school children pay KShs 171,000 per term, while Grade one and two boarding students pay KShs 650,000. In addition, students pay a 50% deposit of term one’s boarding fees, which is refundable upon leaving. The school also offers a 5% discount on basic costs for second and subsequent children.

4. Brookhouse School

Brookhouseis found in Karengata, Nairobi and started in 1981. It is an independent British curriculum co-educational day and boarding school that provides early years, preparatory and secondary schooling. It is one of the best IGCSE schools in Kenya and has two campuses in Kenya; Runda and Karen.
Brookhouse students pay an admission fee of approximately KShs 45,000. In addition, the tuition fee is around KShs 860,000 per term.

5. Peponi School

Peponi School is another leading institution in Kenya. It is founded on Christian principles and started in 1989 as a first-class co-educational boarding school based on the British Independent School system. For admission at Peponi, full boarders pay KShs 1,115,180 while weekly borders pay 1,053,175. Day students pay KShs 731,510. There are extra charges for activities like music and any exams related to the same. Parents also pay a refundable caution deposit upon admission.

6. Hillcrest International School

Hillcrest International School is in the suburbs of Karen, Nairobi. The school was established in 1965 as a pre-school and gained international status in 1972. It is a British Curriculum School with three sections:
Hillcrest Early Years
Hillcrest Preparatory School
Hillcrest Secondary School
For admission to the preparatory school, parents pay a tuition fee of KShs 645,900 while the early years students spend an estimated KShs 330,450. There are also transport charges and a caution deposit fee upon admission.

And when it comes to school fees, do you know a partner that can help you pay is Co-op Bank. Why? Because school fees are all about planning. You should not wake up to realize that fees is due tomorrow and you had not planned for this eventuality even though you’ve lived large for some long holiday weekend. You need a partner who can help you map out the entire financial plan and ensure you get the best possible option for your child(ren).

With the Co-op Bank innovations and partnerships, you can pay school fees and buy new uniforms without having to bear the risk of carrying huge sums of money around. I mean, it would really be a comedy of tragedies if you misplaced that money or it was liberated from you right?

In addition to this, you can also load up your child’s pocket money to their Co-op Bank Pre-paid.

What are the benefits of a Co-op Bank Prepaid card?

  • No need for your child to carry loads of pocket money as they head to school, you can simply load it in the Co-op Prepaid card which is safer than carrying cash.
  • The student will be able to pay for items at their school canteens at No Extra cost.
  • Parents will be able to track their students sending by getting a Mini statement of the card at a Co-op Kwa Jirani agent or via SMS alerts.
  • You no longer need to travel all the way to the school to hand over money to your child, you can simply load the card at any Co-op Kwa Jirani agent.
  • The students are also able to withdraw money using the card from any Co-op ATMs or Co-op Kwa Jirani agents outside school.
  • You dont need an account with Co-op bank to enjoy the benefits of the card.
  • No extra charges will be incurred in transactions using the card.

Click here to find out more.

Don’t get caught unprepared for the new school term

Schools are finally opening and for most people, that means traffic has increased as well as the added stress of having to raise school fees and buying school stationery and uniform.

The thing about school fees is that though it can indeed e a hustle, you have to learn how to alleviate the pain of both preparing yourself or it and actually paying up. And I know it can be tough if your son has taken after his father… Pulling the tail after every exam.

Co-op Bank has however come up with several solutions that can help facilitate you paying fees.

Below are effective online solutions from Co-op bank that are effective and convenient for parents to ensure that they access and remit school fees for their children.

  1. M-Pesa PayBill

To pay your child’s school fees conveniently via M-Pesa PayBill:

  • Go to Lipa na M-Pesa (PayBill)
  • Enter Business Code 400222
  • Enter Account Number as the School Code, next press # followed by the student number, for example, 1469#10023478989 (NB: Click here to confirm your school’s coordinates)
  • Enter amount
  • Enter your M-Pesa PIN
  • Confirm transaction

Receive SMS confirming a successful transaction.

  1. MCo-opCash

While paying for school fees via MCo-opCash:

  • Log into your MCo-opCash App
  • Select Other Payments
  • Select School Fees
  • Enter your school business number or school code/; click here to confirm your school’s coordinates
  • Enter the account to transact from
  • Enter the student number
  • Confirm your transaction

Receive SMS notification confirming the transaction is complete.

  1. Co-op Internet Banking

If you have registered for Co-op internet banking, you

  • Log in to Co-op Internet Banking
  • Select ‘Bank Transfer’
  • Enter the school’s account and student details
  • Confirm the transfer
  • Confirm transaction and print out the receipt
  1. PesaLink

If you’re paying school fees from your Co-op Bank account to a different bank account, you can link your bank account to access the following PesaLink services:

  • Co-op Kwa Jirani Agents
  • Co-op Bank ATMs
  • Co-op Bank Mobile Banking (MCo-opCash)
  • Different Co-op Bank branches

To gain access to PesaLink services, here is a quick guide:

– Launch the MCo-opCash App or dial *667# to access MCo-opCash from your phone

– Select PesaLink

– Link your mobile number to your Co-op Bank account

PesaLink is a free service with zero charges when linking your bank accounts.

  1. Co-op Kwa Jirani

If you don’t have a Co-op Bank account, you can deposit your child’s school fees directly to the school account at the nearby Co-op Kwa Jirani agent. You no longer have to send your children to school with liquid cash. So be on the safe side.

Co-op Kwa Jirani services are available at your nearest local market or town.

  1. Co-op Student’s Card

Long gone are the days of broken boxes and stolen pocket money. Your child does not need liquid cash while in school. We all know how it goes in schools; things can get nasty.

With Co-op Student’s Card, your child is issued a pre-paid Visa card that can mean a lifeline while in session. Your child can purchase goods from the school canteen via a Process Data Quickly (PDQ) machine.

In addition, you can cap a monthly or weekly limit to a specific figure as per your budget. If your child needs access to liquid cash during school breaks, they can withdraw funds from any co-operative Bank ATM or a nearby Co-op Agent.

To access a Co-op Student’s Card, visit any Co-op Bank branch with the following documents for processing:

  • Student’s school ID
  • Student’s Birth Certificate
  • Parents ID
  • Parents KRA Pin

Parents can top up their children’s Co-op Visa Cards via Co-op Kwa Jirani, Mpesa PayBill or direct transfer from their accounts.

Why risk sending your child to school with loads of cash for shopping? Students can use the Co-op Student Card to pay for their shopping as they head to school. Either way, you can pay for their shopping using your Co-op Visa Credit or Debit Card at zero cost.

School fees payment has never been much more straightforward. Are you still stuck up in the analogue era?

Sign up with Co-op Bank today to enjoy these fantastic and convenient services.

Kenyan celebs who attended the most expensive schools in Kenya

Kenya has some very expensive and exclusive schools that have attracted the children of the who-is-who. The type of schools where school fees for one semester is worth more than a lot of Kenyan households earn in a year.

And the crazy thing you wouldn’t believe is that some Kenyan celebs actually studied at such schools. Yup, they attended schools where their parents had to pay north of half a million shillings per semester.

Let’s dive right into Kenyan celebs who attended Kenya’s most expensive schools:

#1. Nick Mutuma

The actor attended Braeside for his high school education. The school is a part of the Braeburn Group of Schools. The school fees per term of Braeburn International school is Ksh. 782,310 per term.

#2. Joey Muthengi

She attended Rift Valley Academy which is one of the most exclusive schools in the entire East African region. Interestingly enough, her brother, Holy Dave attended Machakos Boys… I laughed so hard when a good friend of mine revealed this fact. Talk about disparity.

#3. Anne Kiguta

She attended Rusinga School. Interestingly, she was classmates with yet another well known and celebrated Kenyan who also became a media personality; Waihiga Mwaura.

#4. Size 8

The gospel singer turned evangelist attended State House Girls before transferring to Hillcrest. She attended the school on a scholarship.

#5. Edith Kimani

Like Size 8, Edith Kimani started her high school education at State House Girls before transferring to Hillcrest on a scholarship.

#7. Michelle Morgan

She attended Hillcrest where the lowest amount of school fees a student would pay (or rather, have their parents cough up) is 567,000 per semester.

#8. Fena Gitu

The singing sensation too attended Hillcrest school. It’s almost like they were vying in an unknown contest to create the most Kenyan celebs.

#8. Almasi (Ian Nene)

The Machachari actor attended school at Brookhouse. This school whose main building looks like a castle is one of the most expensive schools in Kenya. Parents of a Grade 5 student have to pay 2.07 million Kshs per annum.

#9. Janet Mbugua

She too attended school at Brookhouse. And just to give you how bonkers the fees can become, Grade 12 parents pay a minimum of 2.37 million shillings a year as fees.

And when it comes to school fees, do you know a partner that can help you pay is Co-op Bank. Why? Because school fees are all about planning. You should not wake up to realize that fees is due tomorrow and you had not planned for this eventuality even though you’ve lived large for some long holiday weekend. You need a partner who can help you map out the entire financial plan and ensure you get the best possible option for your child(ren).

With the Co-op Bank innovations and partnerships, you can pay school fees and buy new uniform without having to bear the risk of carrying huge sums of money around. I mean, it would really be a comedy of tragedies if you misplaced that money or it was liberated from you right?

In addition to this, you can also load up your child’s pocket money to their Co-op Bank Pre-paid.

What are the benefits of a Co-op Bank Prepaid card?

  • No need for your child to carry loads of pocket money as they head to school, you can simply load it in the Co-op Prepaid card which is safer than carrying cash.
  • The student will be able to pay for items at their school canteens at No Extra cost.
  • Parents will be able to track their students sending by getting a Mini statement of the card at a Co-op Kwa Jirani agent or via SMS alerts.
  • You no longer need to travel all the way to the school to hand over money to your child, you can simply load the card at any Co-op Kwa Jirani agent.
  • The students are also able to withdraw money using the card from any Co-op ATMs or Co-op Kwa Jirani agents outside school.
  • You dont need an account with Co-op bank to enjoy the benefits of the card.
  • No extra charges will be incurred in transactions using the card.

Click here to find out more.

Ain’t it true that high school survival stories prepare you for a harsh world?

In lots of ways, our experiences in high school define the rest of our lives. Everything from social skills to street-smart adaptability. High school was an all-inclusive holistic life shaping engagement. Well, corporal punishment was common fanfare, them days. The perfect trailer to a harsh, cruel world after school.

First off, high school gave us a chance to venture outside the suffocating confines of our village and exposed us to other cultures.

He who doesn’t travel thinks his mother is the best cook.

We got used to weevil-ridden fare in smoky kitchens with sweaty, scowling cooks. In some occasions, we’d catch a whiff of kerosene in the Githeri!

The village had embraced us in a loving embrace – then high school ripped us from that comforting embrace to the cruelty of sadistic bullies.

You learn that people can be unkind for no reason.

You learn the world doesn’t owe you a soft landing.

The basics of the social system – elite class, the middle class and the peasants – are first made apparent in high school. One learns there will always be people richer and wealthier, but not necessarily smarter. The grades in class is what mattered.

On money, lessons were served fast and harshly. What may seem exorbitant to one may turn out to be mere chicken feed to another. In those days, I’d feel rich if my folks and relatives in the village sent me back to school with 500 bob as pocket money – shopping inclusive. Then I’d meet urban kids living like kings with unlimited funding!

High school taught us restraint – one doesn’t need to eat bread with margarine on every break.

The ingenious village kids would often come up with tricks to earn extra income.

I know a lad who cleaned the 4K club rabbit hutches for a fee. Most of the club’s members were averse to the tedious chores. He made a tidy sum after classes.

Another lad made a name as a data entry expert – copy writing notes and long assignments over the weekends. He’d also write fancy, wordy, perfumed letters to pen pals in neighboring schools for a fee.

The harshest lesson was dished out in form one, second term. I lost a tidy sum of money to con artists at the bus terminus in town on the way to school.

It was the school fees – stashed in my socks. To date, it amazes me how they had realized I had money on me.

Nowadays, luckily, school kids do not have to expose themselves to con artists and pick pockets. In regard to school fees, with Co-op Bank there’s four safe and convenient ways – from anywhere on the globe.

There are 4 different ways that you can use to pay your fees and that is; the MCo-op Cash app, M-Pesa Pay Bill, Co-op PesaLink or at a Co-op Kwa Jirani agent.

To pay your fees through the MCo-op Cash app follow these steps:

  • Log in to MCo-op Cash
  • Select Other Payments
  • Select School Fees
  • Enter school code/business number; click here to confirm your school’s coordinates
  • Enter account to pay from
  • Enter student number
  • Confirm transaction
  • Receive SMS confirming that the transaction was successful

(You can also dial #667 on your phone and follow the same steps)

To pay your fees through M-Pesa PayBill follow these steps:

  • Go to Lipa na M-Pesa (PayBill)
  • Enter Business Code 400222
  • Enter Account Number as School Code followed by # followed by the student number, for example, 1059#123456789
    (NB: Click here to confirm your school’s coordinates)
  • Enter amount
  • Enter M-Pesa PIN
  • Confirm transaction
  • Receive SMS confirming that the transaction was successful

To pay your fees through a Co-op Kwa Jirani Agent, simply walk to the nearest one and give them the details of the student and name of the school and the money and you will get a receipt.

To pay your fees through Co-op Internet Banking (Co-opNet) follow these steps:

  • Log in to Co-op Internet Banking
  • Select ‘Bank Transfer’
  • Enter the required details for the school’s account
  • Confirm the transfer
  • Print out your receipt once the payment goes through

For more information, you can visit C0-op Bank’s website and ask them any questions that you may have through their Twitter. #WeAreYou

Wazee hukumbuka: Remebering the most exciting day of school

When you think back to your high school days, which days stood up as the most exciting? Most would think straight to closing day but for me one day sticks up above all others and that was the first day of school.

School used to close for about a month back when I was in high school. During those holidays, I would get up to a lot of adventures and having fun with my family and neighbourhood friends.

We would play video games (PS4 had just landed in Kenya) and I would try as much as possible to catch the latest movies and when I would be reporting back to school, I would be excited to compare notes with my bestfriends.

I hadn’t seen them for so long so we would spend all of our free time catching up. Who had had the most awesome holiday? Who had caught the latest series or movies? Who had heard the latest songs? Who had learnt the most sheng?

And it’s the little things like those that I lived for. But the older I became, the more appreciative I became of the fact that all of this was made possible through the sacrifice and planning of my parents.

You see, my parents would plan ahead of time for me to be able to go shopping for the stationary I would need that term. That included school books, math sets and pens. And then there was the question of school fees.

And now Co-op Bank has come through with an excellent plan for how you too can plan for your child’s return to school now that the April holiday has drawn to a close. You too can plan to ensure you give your child the best start to the school term.

And with the current situation, making sure you get school fees through on time could very well be a challenge but Co-op Bank has come up with a solution that allows you to not only make school fees payments conveniently but safely too and in a timely fashion via MCo-opCash.

Click on this link to find out more.