Kenya Association of International Schools

What Kenya Association of International Schools does

The Kenya Association of International Schools (KAIS) is a non-profit membership association incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in Kenya on May 30, 2008. Headquartered on Gitanga Road in Nairobi, KAIS represents over 45 international schools across 9 Kenyan counties (Nairobi, Kiambu, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu, Laikipia, Kajiado, Uasin Gishu, and Machakos), collectively serving more than 20,000 students from Kenya, the African diaspora, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Americas. The association is governed by an Executive Committee chaired by Wairimu Njage, with Jane Mwangi, OGW, serving as Head of Secretariat, and a secretariat of approximately 12 staff.

KAIS operates as a sales-led membership association, generating revenue primarily through recurring annual membership fees from international schools and affiliate organizations. The association delivers a portfolio of programs including KAISSO (a comprehensive interscholastic sports league), the KAIS Rhino Cup Debating Challenge, CPAN (Child Protection Advocacy Network), Continuous Professional Development (CPD) insets for teachers and staff, Student Enrichment Services (arts, drama, Model UN), and collective bargaining for member schools on services such as security, communications, and air travel.

Beyond member services, KAIS serves as the principal advocacy channel between international schools and the Kenyan government on education policy and legislation — most visibly opposing the 2023 Finance Bill on grounds that it would force widespread layoffs. KAIS maintains strategic partnerships with KEPSA (Kenya Employers Association), the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), Kodris Africa, Microsoft Africa Development Centre, Google Africa, Safaricom, KCB, and Liquid Telcom, supporting initiatives such as the May 2023 Digital Skills Symposium advocating for coding curriculum integration in Kenyan schools. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; prospective members inquire directly for fee information, which is structured by school size and category on an annual billing cadence.

Name

Kenya Association of International Schools

Legal name

Kenya Association of International Schools

Website

https://kais.or.ke

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kenya Association of International Schools (KAIS) is a Nairobi-based non-profit membership association representing over 45 international schools across 9 Kenyan counties and serving 20,000+ students. Founded in 2008, it delivers advocacy, sports (KAISSO), debating, child protection (CPAN), CPD, and collective bargaining services to its member schools.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education Association Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Policy, Governance & Board Administration (EDAJAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

K–12 Support & School Improvement Nonprofits (BPAGADAB)

Keywords

• International school membership
• Education sector advocacy
• Professional development services
• Student enrichment programs
• School sports league

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: KAIS generates revenue through membership fees paid by international schools. Fees are communicated to organizations showing interest in joining the association. The association also organizes events and activities that may generate supplementary revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KAIS is a membership association representing over 45 international schools in Kenya. It delivers advocacy and lobbying with the government on education policy, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for teachers and staff, student enrichment activities including the KAISSO Sports League and KAIS Rhino Cup Debating Challenge, and child protection advocacy through CPAN. Revenue is generated from membership fees paid by member schools and affiliate organizations.

Product overview

The Kenya Association of International Schools (KAIS) is a membership association representing over 45 international schools in Kenya, not a single unified product but rather a consortium offering advocacy, professional development, and enrichment programs. The core offerings include the KAISSO Sports League for competitive athletics, the KAIS Rhino Cup Debating Challenge for public speaking development, CPAN for child protection advocacy, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programs, Student Enrichment Services (Arts, Drama, MUN), and collective bargaining services. These programs collectively support member schools through advocacy linkage with government, best practice promotion, and coordinated issue resolution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KAISSO Sports League A competitive interscholastic sports league operated under the Kenya Association of International Schools Sports Association (KAISSO), featuring friendlies, leagues, tournaments, and championships annually for various age groups across Kenya. Targeted at students of member international schools.
• KAIS Rhino Cup Debating Challenge An annual debating competition where KAIS member schools develop students' public speaking ability, foster excellence in debating skills, and promote awareness of local and international issues. Held each September through November.
• CPAN (Child Protection Advocacy Network) A network dedicated to creating awareness and advocating for children's rights, supporting at-risk children, and sharing best practices for child protection through education in Kenya. KAIS members have access to CPAN and its associated Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
• Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Professional development opportunities hosted throughout the academic year for various professional cadres including peer-to-peer teacher insets, health practitioners insets, and HR practitioners insets, accessible through the KAIS Community Forum.
• Student Enrichment Services Events and competitions for member schools including Arts and Drama Festivals, Debate Competitions, Model United Nations Conferences, and subject-area events.
• Advocacy Services Advocacy and lobbying services providing a forum for discussion, policy resolution development, and lobbying for outcomes that support the growth of the international school sector in Kenya.
• Membership Services Membership benefits including access to information through various communications vehicles, policy experts, KEPSA membership connections, collective bargaining and purchasing power for better rates on services such as security, communications, and air travel.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 45 international schools represented with unified voice on policy issues
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Kodris AfricacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation Technologies firm partnered with KAIS to hold digital skills symposiums promoting computing and coding curriculum in Kenyan schools. Kodris Africa is the only organization offering a curriculum approved by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) to teach coding.
• Microsoft Africa Development CentresupportingTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft participated as a technology partner in the digital skills symposium, contributing expertise on coding education and technology skills for the digital economy.
• Google (represented by Jack Ngare)supportingTechnology or IntegrationGoogle Africa participated in the digital skills symposium, emphasizing the importance of introducing coding at elementary level for Kenya and Africa to stay competitive with developed nations.
• SafaricomsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTelecommunications company participated in the digital skills symposium bringing together education and ICT sector stakeholders.
• Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerFinancial institution co-convened the digital skills symposium with KAIS and Kodris Africa.
• Liquid TelcomsupportingTechnology or IntegrationTechnology company participated in the digital skills symposium focusing on digital skills integration in education.
• Rusinga SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the digital skills symposium with KAIS and Kodris Africa to sensitize stakeholders on teaching computing skills in primary and secondary schools.
• Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKICD is the body mandated to provide curricula and curriculum support materials. The Assistant Director of e-Learning, Charles Munene, participated in the symposium supporting curriculum alignment for digital skills.
• Child Protection Advocacy Network (CPAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCPAN aims to create awareness, advocate for the rights for all children, support at-risk children and share best practices for Child Protection through education in Kenya. KAIS members have access to this network and associated Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
• Kenya Employers Association (KEPSA)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerKAIS maintains membership with KEPSA providing members access to policy experts, local and international legislation information, and business initiatives.
• KAISSO (Kenya Association of International Schools Sports Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKAISSO organizes comprehensive interscholastic activities including sports leagues, tournaments, and championships for various age groups, promoting teamwork and cultural understanding.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• European Council of International Schools (ECIS): Membership association for international schools primarily in Europe, offering professional development, student events, and advocacy. Directly comparable to KAIS in mission and operating model, with a regional rather than single-country scope.
• Council of International Schools (CIS): Global membership and accreditation body for international schools. CIS is the most direct comparable peer to KAIS, as both serve international schools through membership services, professional development, and advocacy; CIS operates globally while KAIS focuses on Kenya.
• Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa (ISASA): Membership association representing independent schools across Southern Africa. Closest Africa-based comparable peer to KAIS in structure, advocacy role, and service offerings to member schools.
• Kenya Private Schools Association: Domestic Kenyan umbrella body representing private school owners. Directly comparable to KAIS as a domestic membership association operating in the same country and overlapping member base, though focused more broadly on private schools rather than exclusively international schools.

Regional players

• British Schools in the Middle East (BSME): Membership association of British international schools across the Middle East. Comparable to KAIS in delivering CPD, student competitions, and advocacy for member schools, but focused on a different region.
• Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA): Membership association of American/international schools across South America. Functionally similar to KAIS — convenes international schools, runs student events and professional development — though geographically distinct.
• East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS): Regional membership organization supporting international schools across East Asia. Comparable in mission and service mix (professional development, student activities, advocacy), with a different geographic focus.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS): Large US-based membership association for private/independent schools. Operates at significantly larger scale than KAIS but shares the same core model: advocacy, professional development, and convening of independent school members.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kenya-association-of-international-schools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kenya Association of International Schools