What Makini Schools does

Makini Schools is a private international K-12 education provider headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, operating as a subsidiary of the ADvTech Group, a diversified education conglomerate. The institution delivers two curriculum pathways: the Cambridge Assessment International Education curriculum (accredited) and Kenya's national Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC, 2-6-3-3 system), serving learners from preschool daycare through Grade 12. Makini operates five physical campuses across Nairobi (Ngong Road, State House Avenue, Runda) and Kisumu (Kisumu City, Migosi), with eleven distinct program tracks spanning preschool, primary, junior, and senior school. The school positions itself around three pillars - significant academic progress, pastoral care, and affordability - and cites Cambridge and KAIS accreditation to anchor its international credentialing.

The business model is tuition-based, with annual fees published per campus and ranging from approximately KSh 60,000 to KSh 500,000 depending on grade level and campus location. Ancillary revenue streams include the Aftercare Program (weekday 3:00-5:00 PM), Holiday Program, and elective pathways such as Aviation at additional cost. The technology stack supporting delivery includes the ADvLEARN digital learning platform, MAP Testing for learner progress assessment (NWEA-sourced), and the Makini Digital School online portal providing e-resources, past papers, and hosting the Kenya Maths Olympiad. Curriculum delivery is supported by Wi-Fi-enabled computer laboratories, projectors, and interactive whiteboards across classrooms.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: parents engage through website enquiry forms, downloadable fee structures, campus tours, parent workshops, and information evenings. There are no third-party resellers or channel partners. The customer base is predominantly mid-market families in professional, local, and diplomatic communities across the Nairobi and Kisumu catchments, with reported alumni outcomes including placements at Brown University, University of Leeds, University of Nairobi, and Strathmore University.

Name

Makini Schools

Legal name

Makini Schools

Website

https://makinischool.ac.ke

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Makini Schools is a private international K-12 education provider in Kenya operating five campuses across Nairobi and Kisumu, delivering Cambridge and CBC curricula to learners from preschool through Grade 12 as a subsidiary of ADvTech Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nairobi

HQ country

Kenya

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and School Fees: Revenue is generated through tuition fees charged across multiple campuses for preschool, primary, junior school, and senior school programs. Fee structures are published per campus (e.g., Runda campuses, Kisumu City campus, Ngong Road campus) and vary by grade level. The school emphasizes affordability while maintaining quality education.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Makini Schools is a private international school operating multiple campuses in Kenya that delivers preschool through Grade 12 education under both the Cambridge Assessment International Education curriculum and Kenya's Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC). Core revenue is generated through recurring annual tuition fees billed per campus and grade level, with enrichment offerings such as the Aftercare Program, Holiday Program, and the Makini Digital School online learning portal supporting the in-classroom experience.

Product overview

Makini Schools is a private international education provider in Kenya operating multiple campuses across Nairobi and Kisumu. The institution offers two main curriculum pathways: the Cambridge Assessment International Education curriculum (at Makini School Cambridge Ngong Rd) and the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum aligned with Kenya's national 2-6-3-3 system. The school serves learners from preschool (daycare through Pre-Primary 2) through senior secondary (Grade 10-12), with campuses including Preschool Ngong Road, Primary School Ngong Road, Junior School Ngong Road, Junior Academy Statehouse, Primary School Kisumu City, Junior School Kisumu, Preschool Migosi, Preschool Runda, Primary School Runda, Junior School Runda, and Senior School Runda. Supporting services include an Aftercare Program (3:00 PM-5:00 PM on weekdays) and Holiday Program during school breaks, providing enrichment activities such as coding, robotics, sports, and creative arts. The Makini Digital School platform provides online access to educational resources including past papers, e-resources, and hosts the Kenya Maths Olympiad.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Makini School Cambridge Curriculum A Cambridge Assessment International Education accredited curriculum pathway offered at Makini School Cambridge Ngong Rd, providing learners with globally recognized qualifications for university entrance locally and internationally.
• Makini School CBE Curriculum Competency-Based Education curriculum aligned with Kenya's national CBC (2-6-3-3) system, emphasizing skills, practical application, creativity and continuous assessment over memorization and high-stakes exams. Delivered across the Ngong Road, State House Avenue, Runda, Kisumu City, and Migosi campuses from preschool through Grade 12.
• Aftercare Program Afternoon enrichment program running Monday to Friday from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM, offering activities including computer games, coding, robotics, sports, arts and crafts, music, drama, chess, and messy/sensorial play at no extra cost.
• Holiday Program Enrichment program during school holidays offering stimulating play activities including coding, robotics, sports, and arts to creatively engage learners in a safe and structured environment.
• Makini Digital School Online learning portal providing learners access to past papers, e-resources, notes, and hosting the Kenya Maths Olympiad. Learners can publish development in areas like coding on their own blog through the platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Learners consistently perform well in national examinations and international competitions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ADvTech GroupcoreOthersADvTech Group is the parent company of Makini Schools. Makini Schools operates as a division under the ADvTech education group, which manages multiple educational institutions. The partnership provides corporate governance, operational infrastructure, and brand positioning for Makini Schools across Kenya.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Braeburn Schools: Braeburn Schools operates a network of international schools in Kenya offering British curriculum pathways (IGCSE/A-Levels). Like Makini, it serves Nairobi's professional and expatriate community with multiple campuses, making it a direct competitor for Cambridge-track families.
• Aga Khan Academy Nairobi: Aga Khan Academy Nairobi offers IB curriculum and Aga Khan curriculum within an elite private school setting. It targets similar affluent professional and diplomatic families in Nairobi with a strong academic positioning.
• Brookhouse School: Brookhouse is a long-established private international school in Nairobi offering British curriculum (IGCSE/A-Level) from preschool through secondary. It competes for the same Nairobi professional and diplomatic families as Makini's Runda and Ngong Road campuses.
• Peponi School: Peponi School is a leading Nairobi international school offering British curriculum (IGCSE/A-Level) with a strong academic reputation. It competes for the same high-end Nairobi families seeking globally-recognized qualifications similar to Makini's Cambridge pathway.
• Crawford International School: Crawford International is a sibling brand within the ADvTech group offering IEB and Cambridge curricula across multiple Kenyan campuses. It is highly comparable as a directly competing premium international school network sharing the same parent conglomerate.
• Rusinga School: Rusinga School is a private international primary school in Nairobi offering British curriculum. It overlaps with Makini's primary offerings and shares the same target demographic of Nairobi's professional and expatriate families.
• International School of Kenya (ISK): ISK is a leading non-profit international school in Nairobi offering IB and AP programmes to primarily expatriate and diplomatic families. It represents the upper-premium tier of Makini's competitive set with overlapping target families in Karen/Runda catchment areas.
• Kenton College Preparatory School: Kenton College is a prestigious Nairobi prep school for ages 3-18 offering British curriculum (IGCSE/A-Level). It competes directly with Makini for younger learners in Nairobi's affluent and diplomatic segments with similar fee positioning.

Emerging players

• GreenHill Academy: GreenHill Academy is a Nairobi-based private school offering primary and secondary education with Cambridge curriculum options. It is a comparable mid-market competitor targeting families seeking international curriculum at more accessible price points than premium schools.

Broad incumbents

• ADvTech Group: ADvTech Group is the parent conglomerate and listed JSE education group operating multiple school brands across South Africa and Kenya including Makini and Crawford. As the broader portfolio operator, it provides context on Makini's parent-level positioning and capital access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/makini-schools

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Makini Schools