The National Education System of Kenya consists in general of eight years of primary school, four years of secondary school and four years of university education. This is referred to as 8-4-4 system of education. 
Although the formal education appears to start at primary level, Kenya has a well developed pre-primary education that prepares children for primary school level. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology now plays a vital role in the development and management of this level of education that prior to 1980s, was being handled by Local Government city/town or local county councils, community level local committees and Non Governmental Organisations which includes churches and private companies for children of their employees.

The academic year runs from January to December. Both primary and secondary schools have three to four week breaks during the year in Months of April and August. The longest vacation is in December/January.

The aim of 8-4-4 system was to have a broad curriculum that provides functional education to cater for the physical, social and economic needs of the learners who could leave the system at the lower levels as well as preparing them for tertiary education.

There are about 18,000 primary schools with over six million pupils as per end 2003. The Kenya Government introduced compulsory free primary education as from January 2003. About one and half million children who would have not had an opportunity to go to school are said to have joined primary school. Most of the primary schools are day public schools that serve the immediate communities, a few boarding public schools, low cost boarding schools and private high cost day and boarding schools.

Primary school grades, are commonly referred as 'standards', they range from   1-8. Primary school gives instruction in language, mathematics, history, geography, science, crafts and religious education Children join Standard 1 at the age of six years. Learning is expected to start in the catchments area language/mother tongue as the learners are introduced to Kiswahili and English. The language of instruction is English except for the Kiswahili language. Most pupils finish primary school at 14 years of age.

At the end the eight year of schooling learners sit for a national examination conducted by Kenya National Examinations Council and are awarded Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).

There are about 3,500 secondary schools with a population of about 700,000 students. The transition rate from primary level to secondary level is less than 50%.

The secondary education programme is geared towards meeting the needs of both leaners that terminate their schooling at secondary level and those that proceed for higher education.

Towards the completion of four years of secondary schooling, the learners sit for a national examination and awarded by the National Examinations Council, Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).

Selection for the next level of education is based on the performance in the national examinations.

The government caters for salaries of teachers in public schools while the communities take care of the facilities. Management of public schools is through the school committees, Board of Governors and Parent Teachers Association. Private schools are established and managed by individuals or organisations.

The curricula for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions except for the university are centrally developed by the Kenya Institute of Education. However some private schools have their own curricula to serve specific learners, especially the children of the diplomatic corps.