St. Mary's School, Yala
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St. Mary’s School Yala is a provincial school for boys situated along the Kisumu-Busia highway in Yala Township in the Nyanza Province of Western Kenya.
The school was founded in 1927 by the Mill Hill missionaries notably Msgr. Brandsma who wanted to start a teachers college for catholic schools. Yala School was opened in 1927 making it one of the oldest schools in Kenya.
The school eventually evolved to become a full primary school and junior secondary school that expanded to become the current St. Mary’s Yala. 700-730 students attend the school each year and it has a teaching staff of 40.
Student life
The student body is headed by the School Captain (Head Boy) together with prefects. There is an Old Boys Association "Yala Old Boys Association. (YOBA)", which is a social gathering of old boys.
Co-curriculum activities
The school offers various sporting disciplines, which include rugby, athletics, soccer, basketball, handball, indoor-games, volleyball, badminton and hockey. The rugby team won the national secondary school rugby championship in 2003.
Administrative structure
The school was headed by a Mr.Agoya up to 1989 when Mr.John Were took over up to 1998 when he retired. Marcellous K’ojwang joined as the Principal until 2005 when Mr. John Awiti replaced him in that capacity .Mr Awiti brings on board a wealth of experience from St. Joseph Rapogi in Migori District. Mrs. Rosemary Abuodha Omogo (Deputy Principal) deputized him till 2006 when Mr. Sammy Onyango took over as deputy Prinripal, Mrs Rosemary was promoted to the position of principal head on a different school. Mr Sammy Onyango too has been promoted to Kilgoris Boys High school as the new Principal and his place taken by Mr. Peter Auma with effect from May 2010. Mr Auma was later promoted to Nyabondo Boys High School as the new principal and his position taken by Mr. Oyako. Mr Awiti is the current chairman of Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA).
Facilities
Since the arrival of the new principal Mr. John Awiti, the school has undertaken several projects and the school has been given a complete facelift. The days when boys waded in muddy red soil to and from their dormitories are long gone. Slabs have been laid on all the pavements connecting classes, labs and dormitories. Beautiful landscaping has been done at the assembly area. Other projects accomplished include Purchase of a new school bus, departmental offices, the water project, a sick bay for the students and a laboratory named Yoba House, renovation of all the dormitories and renovation of staff houses . Current on-going projects include Construction of a new dormitory with a capacity of 900 students. The school has been upgraded to a five stream school with 880 students. The school is equipped with a library, which offers a range of reference books, periodicals and university prospectuses. With the growing number of students, the library will be needing expansion to cater for the students as well as offer a wider range of reading material.
The school has 16 classrooms, 13 dormitories, administrative offices and research labs. A private guidance and counseling office is also available as well as computer lab.
Notable alumni
Actually the list of notable alumni of St. Mary's School Yala is endless but just to mention a few: Kenyan politician Tom Mboya, Argwings Kodhek and Former Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Richard Onyonka. Several Academicians have attended the school as well, most notably Prof George Magoha, former VC of Nairobi University, Prof. John Odhiambo and Prof V. Onyango, both of Strathmore, and Dr.Charles Olunga of UON. Other notable in cutting edge scientific research include Dr. Dennis Ndolo (ICGED), Dr. Spala Ohaga (Kisumu), Dr. Bonaventure Aman and Dr. Steve Ger (ICIPE). Judges and prominent lawyers also went through this school, most notably the late J.O Masime, Lawyer Kopot, and Justice Emmanuel O'kubasu, Prominent Kenyans and government officials, including former PC Paul Olando, Austine Dieto, Assistant County Commissioner, Stanslas Oduor, Former PS Youth Ministry in the government of Kenya, James Waweru, Mr. Enos Oyaya, Director, Quality Assurance and Standards, Ministry of Education and Prof. John Lonyangapuo who is the current senator of West Pokot. Not forgetting the prominent politicians like the former Alego Usonga MP Joseph Oloo Aringo, the late Arthur Adhu Awiti and Mukisa Kitui. Others include Jack Onyando, a Health Systems Specialist with the United Nations, Joseph Omondi Ochieng', a Major at KDF, Tom Arody, a HRM Professional with various NGOs and David Odongo, a senior journalist with The Standard Media Group and Kevin Onyango Ochola of Kvoch research and Consultants. Last but no least, prominent sportsmen like Lavin Asego, Eden Agero and Patrice Agunda all of Kenya Rugby 7s are products of St Mary's Yala and Peter Dawo who played for Gor Mahia and was among the squad that made history by bringing Mandela Cup North of the equator in 1987.
There are also alumni from the school in other fields like entertainment, notably KenRazy of the TiChi fame, Nicholas Okwach of Heartstrings Entertainment, one of the biggest theatre groups in the country and Brian Ongiyo, known for his contribution in the Kenya National Drama Festival
External links
Coordinates: 0°05′48″N 34°31′54″E / 0.096609°N 34.531592°E