Lenana School

Senior-school information — 2026 intake

Senior-school cluster: C1
County: NAIROBI
Administrative subcounty: DAGORETTI
KNEC code: 20400001
UIC: 3KSM
Gender: Boys
Day / boarding: Boarding
Ownership: Public

This school is listed as integrated. The gazette has a separate special-needs-school fee schedule, but this register does not establish whether it applies here.

Fee source: Kenya Gazette Notice No. 1449, effective 5 January 2026. For selection and placement updates, use the government portal.

Other dated register details: Teachers Arena (Ministry register mirror), row 6501. Published 2025-06-01; captured 2026-09-10.

The dated register does not confirm current vacancies, school-specific fees, boarding capacity or support services.

The earlier directory record and historical information are retained below.

Earlier directory summary

Lenana School is in Nairobi County (Lang'ata Constituency).

Lenana School is a boys day secondary school.

Lenana School was founded in 1949, in colonial times, as the Duke of York School. The colonial governor opened his official residence, Government House (now State House), to the first classes and dormitories while the school’s own campus at the edge of Ngong Forest in Karen was being completed. The school was then reserved for white students; its first African and Asian students joined after independence.

In 1969 it was renamed Lenana School, after the Maasai spiritual leader Lenana, and the names of its boarding houses were later changed to honour heroes of independent Kenya. It had six forms until the 8-4-4 system replaced A-levels in the late 1980s, when it moved to four.

Today it is a national boys’ boarding school in Karen, Nairobi. Its motto, “Nihil Praeter Optimum”, is Latin for “Nothing but the best”.

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Earlier directory details

Legacy directory code: N1010089

Address: 30253 Nairobi

Level: Secondary School

Day/Boarding: Day

Gender: Boys

Ownership: Public

Sponsor: Central Government/DEB

Founded: 1949

Motto: Nihil Praeter Optimum

Student Needs: Ordinary

Facts

Acreage: 210

Dining halls: 2

Dormitories: 11

Laboratories: 9

Libraries: 2

Toilets: 64

Total Enrolment: 1,500

Total Number of Classrooms: 40

Total Teaching staff: 53

Transition to university or college after KCSE 2024: 397

Location

County: Nairobi

Constituency: Lang'ata

Province: Nairobi

District: Dagoretti

Division: Dagoretti

Location: Riruta

Sub Location: Ngando

Staff

TSC Male Teachers: 16

TSC Female Teachers: 35

PTA Board of Governors Male Teacher: 1

PTA Board of Governors Female Teacher: 1

Non Teaching Staff Male: 55

Non Teaching Staff Female: 13

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Pathways and subject combinations checked 15 October 2026

STEM · 10 combinations

Pure Sciences · 2

Biology, Building & Construction, Chemistry (ST1044)
Biology, Chemistry, Physics (ST1048)

Applied Sciences · 3

Agriculture, Aviation, Geography (ST2070)
Agriculture, Building & Construction, Computer Studies (ST2058)
Business Studies, Computer Studies, Physics (ST2007)

Technical Studies · 5

Biology, Business Studies, Metal Work (ST3084)
Business Studies, Geography, Media Technology (ST3068)
Business Studies, Physics, Wood Work (ST3038)
Chemistry, Geography, Metal Work (ST3099)
Chemistry, Geography, Power Mechanics (ST3015)

Social Sciences · 3 combinations

Humanities & Business Studies · 3

Business Studies, Geography, History & Citizenship (SS2025)
Business Studies, Geography, Literature in English (SS2061)
Christian Religious Education, Geography, History & Citizenship (SS2019)

Arts & Sports Science · 3 combinations

Arts · 2

Christian Religious Education, Fine Arts, Theatre & Film (AS1005)
Computer Studies, Fine Arts, Music & Dance (AS1021)

Sports · 1

General Science, Sports & Recreation, Theatre & Film (AS2038)

Subjects in these combinations · 21

Agriculture, Aviation, Biology, Building & Construction, Business Studies, Chemistry, Christian Religious Education, Computer Studies, Fine Arts, General Science, Geography, History & Citizenship, Literature in English, Media Technology, Metal Work, Music & Dance, Physics, Power Mechanics, Sports & Recreation, Theatre & Film, Wood Work

How subject selection works: what pathways, tracks and the codes mean.