Private schools across Kenya are increasingly seeking financing to expand classrooms, acquire school buses, adopt digital learning technologies and invest in renewable energy as competition for learners intensifies, prompting lenders to roll out specialised financial products tailored to the sector.
This emerged during a private schools directors' engagement forum held in Nyeri County, where NCBA unveiled a bundled financial proposition aimed at supporting learning institutions as they navigate growing operational and infrastructure demands.
According to the Kenya Private Schools Association (KPSA), the private education sector has become a critical pillar of Kenya's education system, with more than 10,400 registered private primary schools serving over 2.1 million learners and more than 1,600 private secondary schools educating over 277,000 students nationwide.
As enrolment continues to rise, many schools are under pressure to modernise facilities, improve learning environments and adopt technology-driven solutions to remain competitive.
Speaking during the forum, NCBA Director for Network Business and Distribution Jane Ng'ang'a noted that schools are facing challenges that require more than conventional banking support.
“At NCBA our purpose of Banking on Belief, Empowering Ambition drives us to partner with learning institutions by providing innovative financial solutions that enable them to invest in their growth, strengthen resilience and create lasting impact for future generations,” she said.
Ng'ang'a observed that many institutions are now grappling with the costs of infrastructure expansion, transport acquisition, technology adoption and operational efficiency improvements.
“Schools today are operating in a rapidly evolving environment that requires continuous investment in infrastructure, technology, transport and operational efficiency. At NCBA, we understand these realities and have developed a comprehensive value proposition designed specifically to support schools at every stage of their growth journey,” she added.
The growing need for financing reflects broader changes within the education sector, where schools are increasingly investing in laboratories, libraries, dormitories, digital classrooms and sustainable energy projects to attract parents and improve learning outcomes.
Private school leaders attending the forum welcomed the move, arguing that access to tailored financial products could help institutions balance expansion plans with rising operational costs.
Speaking on behalf of school directors, Nyeri County Private Schools Association Coordinator Dionisio Ndegwa said schools were under increasing pressure to improve infrastructure and technology while maintaining quality education standards.
“Private schools today are balancing the need to invest in infrastructure, technology and quality learning environments while managing operational costs and changing market demands. Access to a financial partner that understands these challenges and can provide tailored solutions is critical to helping institutions remain sustainable and competitive,” Ndegwa said.
He added that schools require support beyond traditional lending.
“What makes this approach particularly valuable is that it goes beyond financing. Schools require support across collections, payments, infrastructure development, transport acquisition, insurance, and long-term financial planning. Having access to these solutions through one trusted partner creates greater efficiency and allows school leaders to focus on delivering quality education,” he stated.
The development comes as private schools increasingly embrace digital fee collection systems, modern financial management tools and sustainability-focused investments as they seek to strengthen operations and meet the evolving expectations of parents and learners.
NCBA said its offering includes financing for infrastructure projects, working capital facilities, asset finance, insurance, digital collections platforms, savings products and investment solutions designed to support schools throughout their growth journey.
“Our objective is to empower schools with integrated financial solutions that support growth, modernization and operational efficiency. By bringing together financing, digital tools, insurance and investment solutions under one ecosystem, we are enabling school leaders to focus on their core mission of delivering quality education,” Ng'ang'a added.
The initiative highlights the growing importance of financing in Kenya's private education sector as schools race to modernise, expand capacity and position themselves for future growth.
