In the 8-4-4 System of Education, secondary schools exist in four categories as national, extra-county, county and sub-county schools. For example, in Siaya County, the place I was born and brought up, Ng’iya Girls, is a national school. Ambira Boys, is an extra-county school. Maliera Boys, is a county school. Then, my alma mater – Nyamninia Secondary, is a sub-county school.
It is instructive to note. In the new education dispensation, Competency-Based Education (CBE): 2-6-3-3-3, in 2026, current secondary schools will evolve to Senior Schools, hence, exist as C1, C2, C3 and C4 Senior School. So, a national school such as Ng’iya Girls will be a C1 Senior School. An extra-county school like Ambira Boys will be a C2 Senior School. A county school such as Maliera Boys will be a C3 Senior School. Then, my alma mater – Nyamninia Secondary School, which is a sub-county school, will be a C4 Senior School.
Away from that broad categorisation of schools in both 8-4-4 and CBE (2-6-3-3-3) Systems of Education, a few days ago, while preparing to speak at Moi Girls School-Kibwezi (C2 Senior School), I sat at Kambua Resort to pen this piece so as to educate dear readers concerning national schools. That forms the basis of this thesis: Know new and old national schools in Kenya.
The Old National Schools in Kenya
There are about 18 or so old national schools in Kenya. Most of the old national schools are nestled in Kiambu County. They include: Alliance High School, Alliance Girls High School, Limuru Girls High School, Loreto High School-Limuru, Starehe Girls Centre, Mang’u High School and Mary Hill Girls High School. In Nairobi region, they include: The Kenya High School, Starehe Boys School and Centre, Nairobi School, Lenana School, Moi Forces Academy and Pangani Girls High School. In Nakuru County, they include: Utumishi Boys Academy, Moi Forces-Lanet and Nakuru Boys High School. More schools that feature in the giant list of old national schools include: Moi Girls High School-Eldoret in Uasin-Gishu County and Maseno School in Kisumu County.
Two National Schools per County
After the existence of the old 18 national schools, there is another coterie and cohort of national schools where the government ensured that every county had at least two national schools; one for boys and the other one for girls. That cadre of national schools include: Mama Ngina Girls High School and Shimo-La-Tewa Boys High School in Mombasa County. Lamu Girls High School and Mpeketoni Boys High School in Lamu County. Bahari Girls High School and Ribe Boys High School in Kilifi County. Matuga Girls High School and Kwale Boys High School in Kwale County. Bura Girls High School and Kenyatta High School-Mwatate in Taita Taveta County. Ngao Girls High School and Hola Boys High School in Tana River County.
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There is Nep Girls High School and Garissa High School in Garissa County. Wajir Girls High School and Wajir Boys High School in Wajir County. Moi Girls High School-Mandera and Mandera Boys High School in Mandera County. Turkana Girls High School and Lodwar Boys High School in Turkana County. Tartar Girls High School and Chewoyet Boys High School in West Pokot County. Moi Girls High School-Marsabit and Moyale Boys High School in Marsabit County. Kisima Girls High School and Maralal Boys High School in Samburu County. Isiolo Girls High School Garbatula Boys High School in Isiolo County.
Likewise, we have Muthale Girls High School and Kitui High School in Kitui. Siakago Girls High School and Moi High School-Mbiruri in Embu County. Chogoria Girls High School and Ikuu Boys High School in Tharaka-Nithi County. St. Mary’s Girls High School-Igoji and Meru School in Meru County. Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls High School and Kagumo High School in Nyeri County. Mugoiri Girls High School and Murang’a High School in Murang’a County. Kabare Girls High School and Baricho High School in Kirinyaga County. Karima Girls High School and Nyandarua High School in Nyandarua County. Njonjo Girls High School and Nanyuki Boys High School in Laikipia County.
By the same token, there is Nakuru Girls High School and Nakuru Boys High School in Nakuru. Mbooni Girls High School and Makueni Boys High School in Makueni County. Kathiani Girls High School and Machakos School in Machakos County. Moi Girls High School-Isinya and Oloolaiser Boys High School in Kajiado County. Ole Tipis Girls High School and Kilgoris Boys High School in Narok County. Nyaburu Girls High School and Kisii School in Kisii County. Sironga Girls High School and Nyambaria Boys High School in Nyamira County. Kipsigis Girls High School and Kabianga High School in Kericho County. Ossen Girls High School and Baringo High School in Baringo County. Moi Girls High School-Kapsowar and St. Patrick’s Boys High School-Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County.
Additionally, there is Moi Girls High School-Eldoret and Chebisas Boys High School in Uasin Gishu County. St. Joseph’s Chepterit Girls High School and Kapsabet Boys High School in Nandi County. Kisumu Girls High School in Kisumu County. Kaplong Girls High School and Tenwek Boys High School in Bomet County. St. Bridgids Girls High School-Kiminini and St. Joseph’s Boys High School in Trans-Nzoia County. Bunyore Girls High School and Chavakali High School in Vihiga County. Butere Girls High School and Kakamega School in Kakamega County. Lugulu Girls School and Friends School-Kamusinga in Bungoma County. Kolanya Girls High School and Butula Boys High School in Busia. Ng’iya Girls High School and Maranda High School in Siaya. Asumbi Girls High School and Mbita High School in Homa Bay County. Moi Girls High School-Nyabohanse and Kanga High School in Migori County.
The Recent Elevation of National Schools
In the recent past, there are some top extra-county schools that were elevated to national status. For instance, in Nyanza Region, the following schools were elevated to national status: St. Mary’s School-Yala, Sawagongo Boys High School, St. Francis’ Rang’ala Girls High School, St. Mary’s Lwak Girls High School, Ramba Boys High School, Kisumu School, Sinyolo Girls High School, Nyakach Girls High School, Agoro Sare High School, Orero Boys High School, Bishop Linus Okok Girls High School, Ogande Girls High School, Homa Bay High School, St. Joseph’s High School-Rapogi, Kadika Girls High School, Tarang’anya High School, St. Albert Girls High School-Ulanda, Kebirigo Boys High School, Kereri Girls High School and Riokindo Boys High School.
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In Western region, the following extra-county schools were uplifted to national status: Cardinal Otunga Girls High School, St. Mary’s Boys School-Kibabii, Moi Girls High School-Kamusinga, Sacred Heart Mukumu Girls High School, Musingu Boys High School, St. Peter’s Boys High School-Mumias, Nambale Boys High School, Keveye Girls High School, Nyang’ori Boys High School and St. Stephen’s Lwanya Girls High School.
New national schools in Ukambani region include: Precious Blood High School-Kilungu, St. Joseph’s Girls High School-Kibwezi, Makueni Girls High School, St. Alphonsa Kisau Girls High School, Mbooni Boys High School, Mukaa School, Matiliku Boys High School, St. Charles Lwanga Boys High School, Kimangao Girls High School, Machakos Girls High School and Tala High School.
The new national schools at the Coast include: Ribe Girls High School, Kombeni Girls High School, Dr. Krapf Memorial School, Dr. Aggrey Boys High School, Malindi High School, Kinango Secondary School and Waa Boys High School.
In Mount Kenya region, the new national schools include: Nyeri High School, St. Francis Girls High School-Mang’u, Thika Boys High School, Kambui Girls High School, Kianyaga Boys High School, St. Anne’s Girls High School-Lioki, Nyahururu High School, Precious Blood High School-Kagwe, Mutira Girls High School, St. Faustina Kerugoya Girls High School, Njiiri School, Kahuhia Girls High School, Kamahuha Girls High School, Magomano Secondary School, South Tetu Girls High School, Kiaguthu Boys High School, Siakago Boys High School, Nyangwa Boys High School, Othaya Boys High School and Mahiga Girls High School.
In Rift Valley Region, the new national schools include: Kabarnet High School, Kaplong Boys High School, Tambach Boys High School, Olkejuado High School, Litein High School, Tengecha Boys High School, Tengecha Girls High School, GG Rumuruti Boys High School, Utumishi Girls Academy, Molo Academy, Jomo Kenyatta Boys High School, Meteitei Boys High School, St. Anthony Boys High School-Kitale, Paul Boit Boys High School, Kapenguria Boys High School, Kapropita Girls High School, Noonkopir Girls High School, Litein Girls High School, Gatero Girls High School, Moi Tea Girls High School, Mary Mount Girls High School, Bahati Girls High School, Kapsabet Girls High School, Katilu Girls High School, Nasokol Girls High School.
Finally, new national schools in Nairobi City County include: Precious Blood-Riruta, Moi Girls High School-Nairobi, Buruburu Girls High School, St. Georges Girls High School and State House Girls High School.
By Victor Ochieng’
The writer rolls out talks and training services in schools.
vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
