Kisii, Kenya: In early 1934, a group of young boys dressed only in khaki shorts became the first students to be admitted to Kisii School, a colonial government institution that sought to train young Africans to take over the few available white-collar jobs.
The school was started by the Young Kavirondo Association as a Government African School following recommendations of the Phelps-Stokes Commission report released in 1925.
The land that the school stands on was donated by Chief Musa Nyandusi, the father of former powerful Cabinet minister Simeon Nyachae, who became the school’s first alumnus.
Apart from Nyachae, other notable personalities who passed through the school include former Finance minister Henry Obwocha political analyst Mutahi Nguny’i, Kenya Commercial Bank CEO Joshua Oigara, former JKUAT vice chancellor Michieka Ratemo, Information, Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and former Moi University vice chancellor Douglas Odhiambo.
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
Out of the 47 county governors, alumni of Kisii School include Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), James Ongwae (Kisii), Cornel Rasanga (Siaya) and John Nyagarama (Nyamira).
Others are Kisii Senator Chris Obure, MPs Dalmas Otieno (Rongo), Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North), Richard Onyonka (Kitutu Chache South) and James Gesami (West Mugirango).
As the school marks its 80 anniversary on Monday, hundreds of alumni are set to throng the school compound for an event to be presided over by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
School principal Casper Maina said the school has grown in size, from three streams at the start of the 8-4-4 system of education to the current six streams, with a population of 1,300 students.
“Year in, year out, scenes of jubilation and celebration have characterised release of the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination results in Kisii School,” he said.
He added that his students were no different from others as they were picked on merit.
“What we do is encourage students to perform well in co-curricular activities. Our students are constantly reminded of their mission in the school and are always on the move,” Maina said.
best sportsmen
Apart from the exemplary performance in national exams, the institution boasts of producing some of the best sportsmen in the country such as the 1972 relay gold medallist in the Munich Olympics, Robert Ouko, as well as Belgium’s first division soccer mid-fielder John Muiruri and former Mathare United footballer Simon Mulama.
Kisii School has so far managed to produce more than 1,000 university students. In 2013, the school produced 60 ‘A’ and 91 ‘A-minus’ grades, with the highest mean score ever of 10.108 marks.
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