St. Mary's School, Yala

St. Mary’s School Yala is a Roman Catholic primary and secondary school for boys located on the Kisumu-Busia highway in Yala Township in the Nyanza Province of Western Kenya.

Founded in 1927 by the Mill Hill missionaries notably Msgr. Brandsma who wanted to start a teachers' college for catholic schools, the school opened its doors 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. Approximately 2000 students attend the school each year and has a teaching staff of over 40. The school follows the Kenyan 8-4-4 education system.

History

St. Mary's School Yala was a by-product of increased missionary activity by the Mill Hill Missionaries in Kenya in the early 1900s when Monsignor Brandsma (1874-1935) and a group of Mill Hill missionaries from the Netherlands whose vision to expand catholic education and counter Anglican and other Protestant missions already developed in Kenya. Brandsma succeeded in obtaining land from the then local Chief Odera Okang'o. Initially intended to be a teacher training institution, the school opened its doors to its first batch of students in 1927 and was upgraded to "A" level in 1957.

Co-curriculum activities

The school offers various sporting disciplines, which include rugby, athletics, soccer, basketball, handball, indoor games, volleyball, badminton and field hockey. The rugby team won the national secondary school rugby championship in 2003 and came in Third Place in 2017 and was able to proceed to Uganda for the EA championship. The school is also a strong performer in drama and music with consistent top placement of its drama and music club compositions in festivals, students feted for the best stand-up comedy in the 2015 edition of the competition. The school also hosts the annual Yala 15s rugby tournament, a competition that attracts top rugby schools in western and Nyanza. St. Mary's Yala won in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2017.

Administrative structure

The following are the school's past principals;

Deputy principals included Mr. M. Gweno 1991, Mr. Marcelus Kojwang 1995, Mr. Jephaniah Wabomba 1996, Mr. Bonaventure Ollando, 1999, Mrs. Rosemary Abuodha Omogo (Deputy Principal) 2006, Mr. Sammy Onyango took over as deputy Principal followed by Mr. Peter Auma 2010, Mr. Denis Oyako 2014, Mr. Nashon Sianga Adero, 2015, Mr. Nicholas Onyango 2017.
Mr Awiti, the former chairman and later secretary-general of Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) retired in 2016 and was replaced by Mr. Bonaventure Ollando (Yala, 86) who is also an alumnus of the school.

Facilities

The school undertook many new projects and renovations during Awiti’s reign. New pavements connecting classes, labs and dormitories were laid. Landscaping around the assembly area was done as well as the purchase of a new school bus, setting up 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 six streams with over 880 students.

There are a total of 16 dormitories named after founders and prominent alumni of the school.

Notable Alumni

St. Mary's Yala boasts prominent alumni including

National leadership and politics
1. Hon. Thomas Mboya
2. Hon. Argwings Kodhek
3. Hon. Peter Oloo Aringo
4. Hon. Ambassador Maurice Omwony Otieno
5. Prof John Lunyangapuo
6. Hon. Musikaro Kombo
7. Hon. Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi
8. Sen. Onyonka Richard Momoima
9. Dr. Zakary Onyonka
10. Hon. James Nakhwanga Osogo

Academics
1) Prof. John Lonyangapuo
2) Prof. Ouma Muga,
3) Prof. John Odhiambo and
4) Prof Vincent Onyango both of Strathmore,
5) Prof. Peter Owoko k’obonyo University of Nairobi,
6) Prof. Peter Odera of Masinde Muliro University,
7) Prof. Japheth O. Onyando of Egerton University,
8) Prof. Gregory Maloba of Uganda,
9) Prof. Isaiah Omolo Ndiege,
10) Prof Peter J. Ojwang Maseno University
11) Prof. Dennis Ochuodho of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology
12) Prof. Henry Odera Oruka, Political Scientist
13) Prof. Joachim Osur Vice Chancellor of Amref International University,
14) Prof. Charles Olunga of UON,
15) Dr. Tom Mboya Olali of UoN,
16) Dr. David Okello Otieno of Kenyatta University,
17) Dr. Otieno Ong'ayo (Antony) (International Institute of Social Studies).
18) Dr. John Onam Onyatta, of Nairobi University,
19) Dr. John B. Awuor of University of Nairobi,
20) Dr. Maurice Msanya,
21) Dr. Dennis Ndolo (ICGED),
22) Dr. Tom Odhiambo Ouna,
23) Dr. Fred Odhiambo Osowo,
24) Dr. Fredrick Z. A. Odede of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST),
25) Dr. Edwins Baraza Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology
26) Dr. George Ooko Abong’ University of Nairobi (UoN),
27) Dr. Samson Gwer,
28) Dr. John Paul Oyore,
29) Dr. Daniel Ochieng Orwenjo of Technical University of Kenya and
30) Dr. Awuor Ponge of Africa Policy Centre (APC).
31) Dr. Fredrick Odhiambo Osowo

Notable alumni in the medical field include

32) Dr. Patrick Apopa (University of Arkansas)
33) Dr. Spala Ohaga (Kisumu),
34) Dr.John Mumia Natala (Senior Doctor and Dentist Nyanza)
35) Dr. Bonaventure Aman,
36) Dr. Steve Ger (ICIPE)
37) Dr. Awiti
38) Dr. Joachim Osur
39) Dr Odhiambo Victor

Judges
1) Justice Masime,
2) Justice George Odunga,
3) Justice Fred Radido
4) Justice Emmanuel O'kubasu
5) Judge Dalmas Omondi Ohungo

Lawyers:

1) Lawyer Blaise Odhiambo (New York)
2) Lawyer Dismas Wakla (Nairobi),
3) Lawyer Amos Wandago (Nairobi),
4) Lawyer Gabriel Otiende (Nairobi),
5) Lawyer Odhiambo Olel (Kisumu),
6) Lawyer Aluoch Kopot (Kisumu),
7) Lawyer Francis Nyaithe Onyango (Ugunja)
8) Lawyer Victor Olewe (Nairobi)

Engineers
1. George Chiaji
2. Wycliffe Baraza Koyo
3. George Onyancha

Agriculturalist
1. Dan Odhiambo Orwa
2. Onyango Ogutu
College Principles
• Joseph Owuor (JJ)

High school principals
1. Bonaventure Olando
2. Edward Oketch
3. Joseph Magero

Primary school heads
1. Erastus Oketch Ongoro
2. David Otieno Opela

Religious leaders:
• Rev. Fr. Fred Ogambi

Non-Governmental Organisations
1. Emmanuel Nyabera – UNHCR
2. Fred Opundo

Other Professionals:

References

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/old-school/2001449208/st-marys-yala-teacher-made-chemistry-fun

External links

YOBA

{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary's School Yala

1927 establishments in Kenya
Boys' schools in Kenya
Catholic secondary schools in Kenya
Catholic primary schools in Kenya