The Guide
Wed, 24 June 2026

Cities / Nairobi / Emerald International School

Emerald International School

A small Christian K to 12 school on a 10-acre site off Ngong Road in Dagoretti, founded in 2007 and offering Accelerated Christian Education alongside the Pearson Edexcel British curriculum.

Emerald International School campus
Emerald International School, Karen. Photograph · School

Pupils
Est. 400+
Founded
2007

A small Christian K–12 school on a 10-acre site off Ngong Road in Dagoretti, founded in 2007 and offering Accelerated Christian Education alongside the Pearson Edexcel British curriculum.

ACE is a self-paced biblical curriculum that suits families wanting an explicitly Christian programme. The Edexcel IGCSE pathway, added in 2019, is the more conventional academic route. Around 400 students sit across both, and graduation can happen through either certificate.

Families who pick Emerald do so for the Christian ethos and the green campus rather than a brand name. Parents describe a strong sense of community, a child-centred approach, and teachers who stay invested. The limited size and niche curriculum mix mean smaller cohorts in upper years and a less crowded extracurricular calendar than the bigger Nairobi internationals. A good fit for Christian families wanting modest fees and a values-led environment, less so for families chasing IB or a large peer group.


  • The public review pool is small. Two parent voices surface, both at the positive end.
  • Parents return repeatedly to the school's Christian identity. One who has been with the school over 11 years said "the school is not a Christian school just by name. EIS does uphold Christian values in their day to day activities".
  • Teachers are described as committed: one parent wrote that they "faithfully show up and give their best".
  • The Accelerated Christian Education model, in which children set their own goals and self-mark, comes up as a defining feature rather than a complaint.
  • One parent recommended the school "for its standards, its strong ethics on teaching children how to navigate in this world without compromising on their personalities".
  • No signal surfaces from parents or expats beyond this pool, so the picture is built on a thin but consistent positive parent base.

Positives

  • Christian ethos in practice. Long-tenured parents say Christian values are lived day to day, not just badged
  • Teacher commitment. Staff described as faithful and present, giving consistent effort

Considerations

  • Accelerated Christian Education model. Self-paced ACE programme with student-set goals is a defining feature parents accept rather than question

Leadership

Ben Onchana

The immense responsibility of shaping the academic and developmental journey of children at EIS can only be considered a divine assignment. Beyond the call of duty and need to uphold the right of education for every child at EIS is the appreciation that influencing the future of children into becoming responsible citizens remains a great privilege. This explains why achieving “excellent education, wholesome character” for every child at EIS remains my top priority.


Estate Nairobi KE, PP36+J6X, Nairobi, Kenya

School website