Kisii School

Kisii School is a public high school for boys in Kisii, Kenya, established in 1934.

History
Kisii School was established in July 1934 as Government African School (GAS) Kisii following a petition by local councils for a local school in 1933 to Sir Joseph Byrne and subsequent pooling of resources by the same to the tune of of Sh. 120,000 for the establishment of the school on a shared basis with an additional Sh. 3,000 for equipment. Land for the school was provided by the then Nyaribari location chief Musa Nyandusi just outside Kisii township. Work began in January 1934 led by masons from the Kabete Industrial Training Depot and the school began operations in July 1934 Some 300 pupils from across the district were invited to sit an entrance examination for the first class in Standard III to be admitted in January 1935, competing for 60 slots in the school. The pupils who passed were mainly from Luo Nyanza, so the district commissioner ordered a retake of the examination to ensure that more Kisii and Kuria pupils would be admitted to the school.

Historical Timeline
1935- January: the first pupils sat in the Standard III class. Charles A. Berridge, a native of Canada, was appointed the first principal of the school. He remained at GAS Kisii until 1939 when he moved to Government African School Kitui.

1935- February: Governor Sir Joseph Byrne keeps his promise to open the school but falls ill and cancels at the last minute. He sent the acting Chief Native Commissioner Sydney Hugh La Fontaine to open the school on his behalf. La Fontaine was received by the district commissioner Major J.V. Dawson.

1938- Presented the first candidate for Primary School Examinations. By now, the school had 60 pupils in 2 streams of 30 each. The students had to be 50% Kisii and 50% Luo (Kisii 30 Pupils, Luo 30 pupils)

1945- The Secondary School section was started. At that time, this was called the Junior Secondary- equivalent to standard 7 and 8. The population was still 60 per class.

1946 - Presented the first student for Kenya African Preliminary Examination.

1949 - Started the senior secondary (from 3 and 4) These candidates were to be prepared for KASSE (Kenya African Secondary School Examination)

1950 - Presented candidates for KASSE (Kenya African Secondary School Examination)

1953 -The school admitted candidates for a P3 teacher training course which lasted 3 years. It was later shifted to Kabianga Teachers College (present-day Kabianga University) before later on moving to present-day Kericho Teachers Training College.

1956 - The school entered its first candidates for Cambridge School Certificate. A total of 60 students were registered.

1962- The school was among the 6 schools to introduce 'A' LEVEL (Art) with a single stream of 30 students.

1963 - Presented its first Higher School Certificate candidates commonly referred to as A-Level Examination.

1967 - The 'A' level science class or science stream was started. By now, the student population was 450 (form 1 to 6).

Notable Alumni

 * Ratemo Michieka - former and founding vice-chancellor of Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.
 * John Henry Okwanyo - former Cabinet Minister of Commerce & Industry during the Moi regime.
 * John Machethe Muiruri - former Belgium 1st division soccer mid-fielder.
 * Simon Mulama - former Mathare United footballer.
 * Simeon Nyachae - former Ford People Party chairman and Minister of Roads and Transportation in Kenya; Kenya presidential candidate in 2002.
 * George Nyamweya - former nominated Member of the National Assembly.
 * Henry Nyandoro - former Shabana Kisii and Kenyan International Footballer
 * Robert Ouko - Athlete 400 Relay Gold Medalist at the 1972 Munich Olympics
 * James Ongwae - 1st Governor of Kisii County
 * Chris Obure - 1st Senator of Kisii County
 * David Maraga - Retired Chief Justice of the Republic of Kenya
 * Wycliffe Oparanya - 1st Governor of Kakamega County
 * Fred Matiang'i - former Cabinet Secretary in the Government of Kenya
 * Cornel Rasanga Amoth - 1st Governor of Siaya County
 * Dalmas Otieno, Former Cabinet Minister and MP for Rongo
 * Joshua Oigara, former CEO KCB Group Limited and current CEO of Stanbic Bank Kenya and South Sudan
 * Joseph Odero-Jowi, Ambassador of Kenya to the United Nations; Minister for Economic Planning & Development