Cardinal Otunga Mosocho National School has launched initiatives meant to retain and sustain its academic glory and extracurricular activities. Among them is the involvement of students and staff in panoramic activities like Journalism club meetings, which will take centre stage on the 31st of this month when the school hosts more than 30 secondary schools for a grand Journalism Clubs Symposium.
The event will turn the school into a hub of young voices, sharp pens, and confident speakers from across Kisii County and beyond. Students will gather to share ideas, test their skills, and learn from each other in a setting that values clarity of thought and expression.
According to Jared Nyambati, the school’s Clubs and Societies patron, the annual event aims to cultivate and instil linguistic and public-speaking mastery among students in their early years. The goal is to assist them in becoming good, articulate, and service-driven career people in the future.
The symposium will feature live news writing challenges, debate sessions, mock press conferences, photography workshops, and public speaking contests judged by media practitioners and educators. These activities are designed to give students practical experience in gathering information, writing under time pressure, and speaking with confidence before an audience.
According to Former Kisii County director of Culture and sports Nyambane Obino, who is also an experienced high school teacher of languages and drama, journalism clubs play a crucial role in schools because they give students a practical space to practice research, writing, and critical thinking. In an age where information spreads quickly, students learn how to verify facts, write clearly, and present balanced stories. These skills translate directly into careers in media, law, public relations, teaching, and public service. More immediately, they help students express themselves better in class, in leadership roles, and in their communities. The symposium will also emphasise ethical reporting, responsible use of social media, and the role of student journalists in promoting positive stories while holding leadership accountable.
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Other clubs and societies contribute to the same goal in different ways. The Christian Union, for example, will lead sessions on moral leadership, integrity in communication, and servant leadership. These discussions help young writers and speakers understand that influence comes with responsibility. Debate Clubs, Writers’ Guilds, and Drama Clubs expected at the symposium also sharpen language skills, build confidence, and test character. A student who can write a factual news report, argue a case in debate, and stand before peers to share a reflection is a student prepared for leadership anywhere.
Cardinal Otunga School Chief Principal Ezekiel Okeyo says that the school takes pride in encouraging the holistic growth of learners. “We encourage our teachers to nurture our students in all ways, ranging from care of the environment and community services to scouts and others,” he said. His approach reflects the school’s belief that education should shape both character and practical skills.
His deputy in charge of administration, Gerald Ayiera, agrees and gives the history of their school, which was declared a regional centre for climate change and environmental conservation. He says that the school will use the event to revive its focus on the fight against climate change and the increase of food security in the country.
Mr Ayiera said the school’s partnership with SPAC and local banks like Equity and KCB has assisted the school to be a regional hub for climate change mitigation and food security by using successful home-tailored approaches based on indigenous knowledge. These partnerships have allowed students to learn practical solutions they can apply in their own communities.
Commenting on the event, the director of SPAC, Dr Grace Nyaera, confirmed their long-term partnership with the school to give back to society by sending climate change experts to provide hands-on training to both staff and students on reforestation, with an emphasis on indigenous trees. “We are great friends of the school and will send out personnel there to witness and share our early achievements in the fight against climate change in the country,” she said.
Participating schools have confirmed with the payment of shillings 300 per institution for facilitation.
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The principal and staff at Cardinal Otunga Mosocho National School say that hosting the event is part of their mandate to nurture both academic excellence and co-curricular talent. With over 30 schools confirming attendance, the 31st of this month promises to be a day where the next generation of reporters, lawyers, pastors, teachers, and public servants take their first steps on stage.
For many students, this will be the first time their writing is read beyond the classroom and their voice heard beyond the school compound. When young people learn to speak and write with clarity, courage, and truth, schools don’t just produce graduates. They produce citizens who can serve.
By Enock Okong’o
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