The new school year started yesterday for public and private education that adheres to the Kenyan national calendar. In fact, school in Kenya follows the calendar year and usually starts on the first Monday in January.
Like every year, after the classic two months of holiday between November and December, the institutions reopen amidst a thousand problems. 
In addition to the difficulty for families to find the money for the first term's school fees (the primaries are supposed to be free, but there are some small fulfilments needed), those for school uniforms and shoes, which are compulsory to enter the classroom. this year there are also the uncertainties for thousands of students who attend ‘boarding’ schools. 
After a series of fires, including the very serious one in a primary school in Nyeri that caused 19 charred deaths, many schools have not yet reopened because they have not adapted to the new safety standards implemented by the Ministry of Education.
Of the 348 schools that have been ordered to close due to safety issues, only a small fraction have met the required standards. Inadequate space in dormitories, limited emergency exits, outdated electrical installations, as well as general hygiene problems, are the main shortcomings noted.
This year, the new quarter will last 13 weeks, from yesterday to 4 April, and will include a five-day break in the middle of the period (26 February - 2 March).
It will resume for the second quarter on 28 April until 1 August, with a break from 25 to 29 June.
Holidays until 22 August and then the last short term (to allow for end-of-year examinations) from 25 August to 24 October, without a break.