Search for online tuition in Kenya and you will find videos, WhatsApp notes, apps and classes, all described with the same word: "online". They are very different things. A child who watches a recorded video can pause, skip and scroll away. A child in a live class has a teacher looking back, asking a question and waiting for an answer.
Before you pay anything, it helps to know which one you are buying. Here are six quick checks, a comparison table, and the questions to ask on WhatsApp.
Watch the 89-second story: "Holiday, Day 12"
A story with cartoon characters, made by CBC Edu Kenya. Prefer YouTube? Open it here: youtu.be/pyxh7socsfc. For more information, click the link in the description on YouTube or use the button at the end of this page.
Live class or recorded video: what is the difference?
Both can be useful. Recorded videos are cheap, flexible and good for revision. Live classes cost more because a teacher is there at that moment, answering your child. For a learner who is stuck on a topic, the second matters more, because a video cannot notice confusion.
| Check | Live class | Recorded video |
|---|---|---|
| Teacher present | Yes, at the time of the class | No, the video was made earlier |
| Questions answered | Straight away, by the teacher | Not at all, or later in a comment or message |
| Fixed timetable | Yes, a set time each class | No, watch whenever |
| Child must take part | Yes, the teacher asks | No, the child can skip or leave |
| Best for | New topics, hard topics, building a routine | Revision and repeating a topic |
| Cost pattern | Usually a weekly or monthly fee | Often a one-off or low fee |
Six checks before you pay
- Ask for the timetable. A real live class has days and times.
- Ask if your child can speak. Can they ask a question out loud or by chat, and get an answer in the class?
- Ask how long a class is and how many a week. Vague answers are a warning sign.
- Ask what your child gets after class. Notes after every class are a good sign.
- Ask who the teacher is. A real teacher means a real person who teaches your child's grade.
- Ask how to pay. M-Pesa with a clear amount and a clear time period, such as a week, is simple to track.
If you want a longer checklist, we wrote one: seven questions to ask before you pay for holiday tuition. And if you are weighing live classes against a home tutor or revision books, the cost and value comparison puts them side by side.
What a live CBC class at CBCEDUKENYA ACADEMY looks like
We run 4 live classes a week of about 60 minutes each, for CBC (CBE) learners in Grades 4 to 10. Subjects are Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Integrated Science, Social Studies and Business Studies. A real teacher teaches live, your child can ask questions in class, and notes follow after every class. You pay by M-Pesa: KSh 3,000 a week, KSh 6,000 for 2 weeks, or KSh 12,000 a month.
To join, WhatsApp 0711 344 702 with the grade and subjects. We confirm the class group and the timetable, and your child joins from a phone or a laptop. If you prefer a call, leave a number and we call you back. We do not promise marks. We promise a real teacher at a fixed time.
Is live always better?
Not always. Use recorded material for revision, and a live class where understanding is the problem. If your child is already confident, a video may be enough. If they say "I did not understand that" and nobody can answer, a live class is worth it. For safe use of other digital tools, see our guide to using an AI tutor safely in the school holiday, and for the bigger picture on learning without pressure, why CBE is not a race.
| Academy fact | What it is |
|---|---|
| Name | CBCEDUKENYA ACADEMY: live online classes by CBC Edu Kenya |
| Who it is for | CBC (CBE) learners in Grades 4 to 10, and IGCSE learners |
| Format | 4 live classes a week, about 60 minutes each, with a real teacher who answers questions live |
| After class | Notes after every class |
| CBC subjects | Mathematics, English, Kiswahili, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Business Studies |
| CBC price | KSh 3,000 a week, KSh 6,000 for 2 weeks, KSh 12,000 a month |
| IGCSE price | Exactly double: KSh 6,000 a week, KSh 12,000 for 2 weeks, KSh 24,000 a month |
| How to pay | M-Pesa |
| How to join | WhatsApp 0711 344 702 with the grade and subjects, we confirm the class group and timetable, pay, join live from a phone or laptop |
Ask the six questions, then decide
Any good provider will answer them plainly. If you get a plain answer and a teacher who shows up, you are buying the right thing.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if an online class is really live?
Ask for a timetable, ask whether your child can speak or ask questions during the class, and ask to see the class link on the day. A live class has a fixed time and a teacher who responds.
Is online tuition as good as a home tutor?
It depends on the child. A live online class gives a real teacher without travel and is often cheaper, while a home tutor gives one-to-one attention. Our comparison guide goes through the cost and the trade-offs.
Can my child join from a phone?
Yes. Learners join live from a phone or a laptop. A laptop or tablet makes writing and diagrams easier, but a phone works.
How do I pay for online tuition in Kenya?
With CBCEDUKENYA ACADEMY you pay by M-Pesa. CBC is KSh 3,000 a week, KSh 6,000 for 2 weeks or KSh 12,000 a month. IGCSE is exactly double.
Do you offer a call back?
Yes. Leave your number on cbcedukenya.com and we call you back, or WhatsApp 0711 344 702.
KJSEA and KPSEA revision courses
The Grade 9 KJSEA course covers all 9 learning areas for KSH 400. The Grade 6 KPSEA course covers all 5 subjects for KSH 300. Notes, worked examples, topical questions and full marking schemes in both.
KSH 300 or KSH 400 · Get it now → 📱 M-Pesa, sent to your email after payment · join parents preparing nowHave a CBC question this article didn't answer?
Ask Somo, Kenya's first AI tutor. CBC-grounded, Kenyan examples, instant feedback. Five free questions a day with no signup, or start a 7-day free trial for 30 questions a day.
Try Somo Free →