One of the biggest frustrations for Kenyan parents and teachers is the cost of learning materials. Textbooks are expensive, private tutoring is out of reach for most families, and the government's free material provision has been slow, especially for Grade 10. But here is the good news: there are genuinely useful free resources available online right now.
This article is a comprehensive, curated list of every free online resource available for CBC (now CBE) learners in 2026. We have tested, verified, and organised them by type. Bookmark this page and share it with every parent and teacher you know.
1. Official Government Resources
KICD Website (kicd.ac.ke)
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development is the official body responsible for the CBC (now CBE) curriculum. Their website has:
- Curriculum Designs — The official documents that define what is taught in each grade and learning area. Every teacher should have these. They are available as PDFs.
- Teacher Handbooks — Guidance documents for teachers on how to implement the curriculum
- Assessment Guidelines — Official CBA assessment frameworks and rubric guidance
- Approved Textbook Lists — The "Orange Book" listing KICD-approved textbooks per grade and subject
Limitations: The KICD website can be slow and sometimes hard to navigate. Content is not always organised intuitively. Not all materials are available for all grades yet.
Kenya Education Cloud (kec.ac.ke)
The Ministry of Education's online learning platform. It offers:
- Digital lessons for some Grade 7-9 subjects
- Teacher training resources
- Some interactive content
Limitations: Content coverage is incomplete. Not all subjects are represented. Platform stability varies.
KNEC Website (knec.ac.ke)
The Kenya National Examinations Council handles national assessments. Their site provides:
- KJSEA and KPSEA guidelines
- Past assessment frameworks
- Exam registration information
2. Free YouTube Channels for CBC (now CBE) Learners
YouTube is probably the most powerful free learning tool available to Kenyan students with internet access. These channels offer free video lessons:
CBC Edu Kenya (@CBCEduKenya)
Our own channel — and yes, we are listing ourselves because we genuinely offer free content. The channel features:
- Topic-by-topic video tutorials for Grade 7-9 core subjects
- IGCSE revision videos
- Weekly live Q&A sessions every Saturday at 10am EAT
- Holiday coaching sessions during every school break
- YouTube Shorts with quick revision tips
Completely free. No signup required. Subscribe and turn on notifications to get new lessons as they drop.
Other Useful YouTube Channels
- KICD Kenya — The official KICD channel with some curriculum explainer videos
- eLimu — Animated lessons for primary school learners (PP1-Grade 6)
- Khan Academy — Not Kenya-specific, but excellent for Mathematics and Science concepts. Content aligns well with many CBC (now CBE) topics, especially for upper grades.
- Professor Dave Explains — Clear science explanations at secondary level
- The Organic Chemistry Tutor — Excellent for Grade 9+ Mathematics and Science
Tip: When using international YouTube channels, remember that the content may use different terminology or follow a different curriculum order. Use them to understand concepts, but rely on KICD-aligned materials for exam preparation.
3. Free Apps for Learning
| App | What It Does | Best For | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Khan Academy | Video lessons + practice exercises in Maths, Science, and more | Grade 4-12 Mathematics and Science | Free |
| Photomath | Scan a maths problem with your camera, get step-by-step solution | Mathematics homework help | Free (premium optional) |
| Duolingo | Language learning through gamified lessons | English and Kiswahili practice, plus French and other languages | Free (premium optional) |
| Quizlet | Flashcard-based study tool. Create your own or use existing sets. | Vocabulary, definitions, Science facts, revision | Free (premium optional) |
| Google Translate | Translate text, scan documents, and voice translation | Kiswahili/English translation, language homework | Free |
| GeoGebra | Interactive geometry, algebra, and graphing tool | Mathematics — geometry, graphs, functions | Free |
4. Free Resources From CBC Edu Kenya
We believe every Kenyan learner deserves access to quality materials. Here is what we offer for free:
Free Sample Packs
Download free sample notes, exam papers, and revision guides to see the quality of our materials before buying. No payment required — just download and start studying.
Free Blog Articles
Every article on our blog is free. We cover CBC (now CBE) curriculum guides, study tips, parent guides, teacher resources, and AI education content. You are reading one right now.
Free YouTube Tutorials
Our entire YouTube channel is free. Every tutorial, every live Q&A, every holiday coaching session — all free to watch.
Free African Storybooks
We are building a collection of original African storybooks for Kenyan learners, with some available for free download. These include comprehension questions and vocabulary exercises.
5. Free Open Educational Resources (OER)
African Storybook Project (africanstorybook.org)
A collection of openly licensed picture storybooks in African languages, including Kiswahili and English. Thousands of stories available for free reading and download. Excellent for lower primary readers and for building reading culture.
CK-12 (ck12.org)
Free textbooks, practice exercises, and simulations for Mathematics and Science. Not Kenya-specific, but the content quality is high and covers many CBC (now CBE)-adjacent topics.
OpenStax (openstax.org)
Free, peer-reviewed textbooks for secondary and tertiary level. Particularly useful for Grade 10-12 STEM subjects where Kenyan textbooks are still scarce.
PhET Simulations (phet.colorado.edu)
Free interactive science simulations from the University of Colorado. Excellent for visualising concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology that are hard to demonstrate without a lab. Works on phones and computers.
6. Free Teacher Resources
Teachers need support too. These resources are free:
- KICD Curriculum Designs — Free download from kicd.ac.ke (the foundation for all lesson planning)
- Our Blog — Teacher Resources Category — Free articles on lesson planning, rubric creation, CBA implementation, and more
- Teacher WhatsApp Groups — Join "CBC (now CBE) Teachers Kenya" groups on Facebook to connect with other teachers sharing free resources
- Google for Education — Free tools including Google Classroom, Google Slides, and Google Forms for creating digital lessons and assessments
7. Free Resources for Parents
- Our Parent Guide articles — Free, comprehensive guides explaining CBC (now CBE), assessment, transitions, and more
- KICD Parent Brochures — Some awareness materials available on the KICD website
- YouTube — CBC (now CBE) Explained for Parents — Search for "CBC (now CBE) explained" on YouTube for parent-friendly explainer videos
8. Ministry Guidelines (Free Downloads)
These official government documents are available for free and every parent and teacher should have them:
- CBC (now CBE) Assessment Guidelines — How CBA works, what BE/AE/ME/EE mean, how report cards are structured
- Transition Guidelines — How Grade 6 to 7 and Grade 9 to 10 transitions work
- KJSEA Framework — How the national exam is structured and scored
- Special Needs Education Guidelines — Accommodations and adaptations for learners with special needs
How to Make the Most of Free Resources
Free resources are powerful but only if used strategically. Here are our tips:
- Combine sources — Use KICD curriculum designs to know what topics to study, YouTube videos to understand concepts, and practice papers to test yourself
- Stay KICD-aligned — International resources like Khan Academy are excellent for concepts but may cover topics in a different order. Always cross-check against the KICD curriculum for your grade.
- Set a schedule — Free resources are only useful if you actually use them. Set aside specific times for online study.
- Download for offline use — Data is expensive. Download YouTube videos for offline viewing using YouTube Premium or video downloaders. Download PDF notes so you can study without internet.
- Start with what you need most — If your child is struggling in Maths, focus on Maths resources first. Do not try to use everything at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are free online resources enough for my child to pass KJSEA?
Free resources can provide a solid foundation, but they are unlikely to be sufficient on their own for KJSEA preparation. National exam preparation requires practising with past papers and marking schemes that are specifically aligned to the KJSEA format, which most free resources do not provide. Use free resources for understanding concepts, then invest in targeted exam preparation materials closer to the exam.
Is Khan Academy aligned to Kenya's CBC (now CBE)?
Khan Academy is not specifically aligned to CBC (now CBE) — it follows an international curriculum structure. However, the mathematical and scientific concepts it teaches (fractions, algebra, cell biology, forces) are universal. The order may differ from the KICD curriculum, so use the curriculum design as your guide and select relevant Khan Academy lessons that match each strand.
How much internet data do free YouTube tutorials use?
A typical 10-minute YouTube video at standard quality (480p) uses approximately 70-100 MB of data. At lower quality (360p), it drops to about 40-60 MB. To save data: set YouTube to lower quality in settings, download videos on WiFi for offline viewing, or watch YouTube Shorts which are shorter and use less data. A 1 GB data bundle at 360p quality can give you roughly 15-20 tutorial videos.
Can my child study with only a phone?
Yes. All the resources listed in this article work on smartphones. YouTube, Khan Academy, Photomath, Duolingo, and even PDF notes can all be accessed on a basic smartphone with internet access. A computer is better for extended study sessions, but a phone is perfectly functional for learning. The key is consistent use — even 30 minutes a day of focused phone-based study adds up over time.
Where can I find free past papers for Grade 7-9?
Free CBC (now CBE) past papers are scarce because the curriculum is relatively new. Some schools share their internal exam papers in teacher WhatsApp groups and Facebook communities. KNEC does not publicly release KJSEA papers for free download. For comprehensive, KICD-aligned exam papers with marking schemes, CBC Edu Kenya offers them at KSH 100 per subject — the most affordable option for quality practice papers. Free sample papers are available in our free sample pack.
Share This List
If you found this useful, share it with other parents and teachers. Education should be accessible to everyone. The more people who know about these free resources, the better prepared Kenyan learners will be.
For our full library of paid resources — notes, exams, rubrics, schemes of work, and lesson plans for every grade and subject — visit cbcedukenya.com/shop. Materials start at just KSH 100.