By Philemon Kiprop
The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development KICD has released a new list of English Literature and Kiswahili Fasihi set books that would be examined from 2022 to 2026. This means students in form three are to begin reading the selected set books.
Most English set books are new while the Swahili Fasihi enters the second year as they were introduced in 2021.
The institution in letter dated 7th January 2022 said that the texts will replace literature books that have in use since 2017. The set books serve a cycle of five examinable years.
“The new texts are replacing those that have been in place since 2017 as per the circular MOE/QAS/5/19/16. The duration of the study of set books is five years,” reads part of letter titled ‘Approved Secondary Literature in English and and Fasihi ya Kiswahili Set Books for 2022-2026’.
Paul vitta’s Fathers of Nations published by Oxford University Press replaces Henry ole Kulet’s Blosooms of the Savannah as the compulsory novel. The Samaritan takes the place of A Doll’s House in the compulsory play category.
In the English optional books, Artists of the floating world made to the selected list to replace John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. The book is written by Kazuo Ishiguro and published by Longhorn publishers.
A Silent Song and Other Stories replace Chris Wanjala’s Memories We Lost in the anthology of short stories genre as optional set book. The short stories are edited by Kenya’s literature guru Godwin Siundu and published by Spotlight Publishers.
David Mulwa’s play, Inheritance has been replaced with satirical play A Parliament of Owls written by Sidang Odipo.
In Fasihi ya Kiswahili, Pauline Kea’s Kigogo is now replaced by Bembea written by Timothy Moriasi in the play category [Tamthilia] while Nguu za Jadi makes it to the novel category replacing Asumpta Matei’s Chozi la Heri. The new book is written by Clara Momanyi whose other literary works have been examined in Kenyan schools.
Mapambazuko ya Machweo na Hadithi Nyingine published by Mountaintops publishers takes the place of Tumbo lisiloshiba in the short stories genre.
