Ex-Alliance principal Khaemba to build Sh300m schools in franchise plans

Former Alliance Boys High School principal Christopher Khaemba has teamed up with local and foreign partners to invest more than Sh300 million in a chain of high-end private secondary schools in Kenya.

The first of the schools — branded Nova Academies— will open in January targeting 100 students.

Set on five acres, the boarding school is located in Kikuyu next to Alliance where Mr Khaemba served as the principal for 10 years.

“Nova Academies announces the launch of a unique Kenyan 8-4-4 secondary boys school equipping entrepreneurial thinkers and leaders with the skills that are lacking in tomorrow’s workforce,” Nova Group said in a statement.

With fees of about Sh100,000 a term, Nova Academies is targeting students from middle-class households. The investors also plan to open more than 10 such schools in Kenya over the next five years.

Nova Academies were founded in South Africa with two schools and this is the first time the school brand will be entering Kenya as part of its pan-African expansion plan that would see the establishment of more than 100 schools in the continent over ten years.

The school’s entry in Kenya highlights the increased interest in the local private education market by international investors, including private equity firms and international educational brands.

The firm said it would integrate the local education system with world class teaching models “to prepare students to be globally competitive”.
The academies emphasise creative problem solving, collaborative leadership and self-mastery values.

The funds being invested in Kenya have been raised from a group of unnamed investors from Africa and other markets.

Nova Group also received grant funding from IKEA Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the home furnishings company IKEA Group.

Mr Oliver Sabot is the managing director of Nova Academies while Mr Khaemba is listed as a founder. It was not immediately clear whether Mr Khaemba has a shareholding in the franchise.

The former Alliance principal did not respond to our queries by the time of going to press. He is currently the Nairobi County executive for education, youth affairs, children, culture and social services.

The expansion of Nova Academies into Kenya signals increased investors’ interest in the local private education sector where demand is being driven by rising incomes among middle class families.

“Kenya has had the strongest education in Africa. But the world is changing rapidly. The country has also been leading the world in innovation with M-Pesa and other innovations,” Mr Sabot told the Business Daily in a telephone interview.

He added that the group is exploring a partnership with Equity Foundation’s Wings To Fly programme to fund scholarships that would benefit bright students who may be unable to afford the fees.

Nova Academies is the latest to enter Kenya’s private education market after Educas, a United Kingdom-based private equity firm, recently completed the buyout of Brookhouse School for Sh3.6 billion.