Bilingual Schools in Nairobi: A 2026 Guide for Expat Families

Quick answer: Are there bilingual schools in Nairobi for expat children? Mostly not in the full immersion sense. Nearly all of Nairobi's international schools teach in English, with Kiswahili and French as subjects. Braeburn Garden Estate School lists the IB, and British-curriculum schools such as Hillcrest and Braeside charge roughly KES 1.0m to 3.5m a year depending on stage.

Last reviewed: October 2026 by Catherine from ISA. Fee ranges are indicative; always confirm with the school.

Nairobi is home to the UN's African headquarters, dozens of embassies, regional offices of global NGOs and a fast-growing technology sector, so many children here grow up with two or three languages at home. Parents searching for bilingual schools in Nairobi often hope to find a school that teaches half the day in English and half in French, German or Kiswahili. The reality is more modest: almost every international school in the city teaches in English, and a second language is a subject rather than a medium of instruction.

That does not mean children leave monolingual. Kenya itself is bilingual by law, Kiswahili is part of daily life, and several schools teach French, Spanish or Mandarin through to IGCSE, A Level or the IB. This guide explains how language works in Kenyan and international schools, introduces four British-curriculum and IB schools on our directory, sets out fees in shillings for 2026 and gives practical advice on judging a school's language provision.

Living in Nairobi with school-age children

Most expatriate families settle in the leafy western and northern suburbs. Karen, on the south-western edge near the Ngong Hills, has large plots, a quieter pace and several long-established schools. Lavington and Westlands are closer to the city centre and the main office districts. Gigiri and Runda, to the north, are where many UN and diplomatic families live because of the UN complex at Gigiri. Garden Estate, off Thika Road to the north-east, is a quieter residential area that has become popular with families wanting more space.

Traffic is the single biggest practical factor in Nairobi school choice. A journey of 15 kilometres can take well over an hour at peak times, especially across Waiyaki Way, Ngong Road or Thika Road. Most schools run bus services, and many parents choose the school first and then rent within a short drive of it. Starting times are early, often before 8am, partly to beat the worst of the morning traffic.

How languages work in Nairobi's schools

Under Article 7 of Kenya's 2010 Constitution, Kiswahili is the national language and both Kiswahili and English are official languages. That shapes school language policy in three ways:

Kenyan national curriculum (CBC): Kiswahili is compulsory throughout, and English is the main language of instruction from the upper primary years. Children in these schools grow up genuinely bilingual in English and Kiswahili.
British curriculum (National Curriculum of England and Wales): taught in English, leading to IGCSE and A Level. Most of these schools offer Kiswahili as a subject, often alongside French, and some add Spanish or Mandarin.
International Baccalaureate: taught in English, with the Language A and Language B framework in the Diploma. A strong home-language speaker may be able to work towards the bilingual diploma.
Dual-language immersion: Nairobi does have French and German curriculum schools serving their national communities, but true English plus second-language immersion is scarce and places are limited. Families should ask those schools directly about entry requirements, since they are not on our verified list.

Four schools on our directory

Hillcrest International Schools

Hillcrest is in Karen and teaches the British curriculum in English. Its origins go back to Hillcrest Preparatory School, established in 1965 by Dorothy Noad and Frank Thompson, and it gained international status in 1972 when it joined IAPS. That long history means many alumni families and a settled community in Karen. Tip: ask how Kiswahili and French are taught in the prep years compared with the secondary school, and whether native speakers can be entered early for IGCSE.

Braeside School

Braeside is a co-educational school for ages 3 to 18 following the National Curriculum of England and Wales. Founded in 1994, it is part of the Braeburn Group and has pupils of more than 50 nationalities. In practice, that mix means your child is likely to meet classmates who share their home language, which helps keep it alive socially. Observation: with so many nationalities, ask how the school supports pupils who arrive with limited English, and whether that support is included in fees.

Braeburn School

Braeburn School is on Gitanga Road in Lavington, teaching ages 3 to 18 under the National Curriculum of England and Wales. It belongs to the Braeburn Schools Group and has been operating for over 30 years. Its Lavington site is practical for families living in Lavington, Kileleshwa or Westlands. Tip: since several schools in the group share a curriculum framework, ask whether language courses and exam pathways match across campuses if you might move within Nairobi.

Braeburn Garden Estate School

Braeburn Garden Estate School is a co-educational school in Garden Estate, off Thika Road, taking children aged 2 to 18, with the option of weekly boarding. Its profile lists the IB, which makes it the most direct route on this list to a structured two-language qualification through the Diploma's language framework. Observation: weekly boarding is useful for families living far out or travelling for work, and avoids the daily Thika Road commute for older students.

Fees and currency in 2026

British-curriculum international schools in Nairobi charge roughly KES 1.0m to 3.5m a year depending on stage (about USD 7,500 to 27,000), with early years and primary at the lower end and IGCSE, A Level and IB years at the upper end. Many schools quote fees in Kenyan shillings, but some quote in US dollars, and that changes your risk. If your salary is in dollars or euros, a shilling invoice can work in your favour; if you are paid locally, dollar-denominated fees expose you to exchange rate moves.

Extras to plan for:

Application and registration fees: charged once, usually non-refundable.
Refundable deposit or caution money: often a significant sum, returned when the child leaves with proper notice.
Development or building levy: some schools charge a one-off or yearly contribution.
Transport: school buses are priced by zone and can be a large item given Nairobi distances.
Meals and uniforms: usually billed termly.
Exam fees: IGCSE, A Level and IB entries are typically extra, including any home-language entries.
Boarding: weekly boarding where available adds a further charge.
Private language tuition: many families add home-language or French lessons outside school.

Practical advice for families raising bilingual children in Nairobi

Treat Kiswahili as an asset, not an extra. Children who learn Kiswahili well gain a language spoken across East Africa and a real connection with the country they are living in. Ask whether the school teaches it as a living language with native-speaker teachers and whether it leads to an exam, rather than a weekly lesson that fades after Year 9.

Protect the home language deliberately. Because almost all teaching is in English, a child's French, German, Spanish or Mandarin will drift unless you plan for it. Ask whether the school can enter your child for IGCSE or A Level in their home language, or for an IB Language A, and combine that with weekend classes run by cultural centres or community groups in Nairobi.

Weigh location and language together. A school with a stronger language offer an hour away may cost your child ten hours a week on the road. In Nairobi, a slightly weaker language programme close to home plus private lessons often works better than the perfect school across the city.

Compare more schools in the city

For a wider view of curricula, fees and locations, see our ranking of the Best international schools in Nairobi, which covers British, IB and other international options across the city.

More guides to schools in Nairobi

Frequently asked questions

Is Kiswahili compulsory at international schools in Nairobi?

Kiswahili is compulsory in the Kenyan national curriculum (CBC), but British and IB schools set their own language policies. Most still offer it as a subject, often from the early years, and some enter pupils for IGCSE. Ask how many lessons a week are taught and whether there are separate groups for fluent speakers.

Are there French bilingual schools in Nairobi?

Nairobi has French and German curriculum schools serving their national communities, but true English plus French immersion is scarce. Most families instead choose an English-medium school that teaches French to IGCSE, A Level or IB, such as a British-curriculum school in Karen or Lavington, and add weekend classes to keep the language strong.

Are Nairobi international school fees paid in shillings or dollars?

Both exist. Many schools invoice in Kenyan shillings, while some quote fees in US dollars. British-curriculum schools charge roughly KES 1.0m to 3.5m a year depending on stage. If your income is in a different currency from the invoice, budget a margin for exchange rate moves over a full school year.