By Anderson Ojwang
The recent Maseno School 120th anniversary birthed a master plan for prosperity.
After decades of academic dominance in national examinations and sports, Maseno School finally turned its attention to infrastructural development.
At the heart of the rewriting of the Maseno School infrastructural master plan were President William Ruto, the Ministry of Education, the Old Boys Alumni, and the current Maseno School administration.
President Ruto, in his opening remarks, stated: “There are schools that educate students, and there are institutions that shape the destiny of a nation. Maseno School belongs to the latter category. Some 120 years ago, when this institution was founded, the Republic of Kenya as we know it today did not exist. Yet here, at the foothills of Mabungu Hills along the border of present-day Kisumu and Vihiga counties, the foundation of what would become a towering institution of academic excellence was already being laid.”
President Ruto said for 12 decades, Maseno School has stood not merely as a centre of learning but as a living monument to the enduring power of education, discipline, leadership, service and nationhood.
“Generations have passed through these gates carrying the hopes and aspirations of families and a nation searching for its place in history,” he said.
The Anniversary
President Ruto said the anniversary, therefore, was not merely a celebration of longevity; it was a celebration of continuity, institutional excellence and national memory.
“I have been taken around this institution and I have encountered sites that are not merely school landmarks but important monuments of our national heritage. I have seen the historic Oseno tree under which the first six students began their journey. I have visited the house where the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga lived while teaching here between 1943 and 1945. I have also seen the chapel built in 1906 at the very dawn of this institution’s existence. These are not ordinary places; they are living chapters of Kenya’s history,” he said.
Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o said Maseno School’s 120th anniversary was a historic tribute to an institution whose legacy in education, leadership and nation-building remains profound. Maseno has shaped generations of Kenyans.
“It was an honour to join H.E. President William Ruto, alumni, teachers, parents and students in celebrating this enduring heritage. For me, the occasion was also deeply personal, given that my late father Canon Hesbon Nyong’o, my brothers Omondi Nyong’o and the late Prof Aggrey Nyong’o all passed through and served this great institution,” he said.
He said as Kisumu County, they remained committed to supporting Maseno School through the Maseno Municipality as a centre of education, innovation and sustainable growth.
Master plan: Infrastructural game changer
President Ruto thanked the school administration, the board and the alumni for thinking outside the box and looking at a new Maseno that will serve the nation for the next 100 years.
“I like their boldness, thinking and vision. I want to assure you that you have my support. I have been informed that while Maseno’s academic performance continues to rise, some of its support infrastructure has not expanded at the same pace,” he said.
President Ruto said Maseno School’s infrastructural development was a matter that deserved attention because an institution of such stature must be supported to match its historic mission and future responsibility.
“We shall work closely with the administration and the alumni to upgrade its physical infrastructure so that it fully reflects the stature, heritage and standing of Kenya’s premier institutions of learning,” he said.
The new master plan will make it a model centre of excellence, with the government to construct a total of 40 classrooms by the end of the year.
President Ruto said: “Having read the vision of Maseno going into the future and understanding well why you invited me here, William Ruto and friends, because it’s going to be a collaborative effort, we are going to build 40 classrooms to accommodate 1,600 students.”
President Ruto said the Alumni Association had already raised Sh80 million that will be directed towards the construction of the STEM Complex (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
The President said the Ministry of Education will provide computers for the ICT department of the school.
Also on the menu is the construction of an ultramodern multipurpose hall through a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Education providing Sh40 million while Maseno School will top it up with an additional Sh30 million.
The multipurpose hall is expected to accommodate at least 5,000 people.
President Ruto said the Ministry of Housing was to construct a dormitory to accommodate 2,000 students.
Maseno standing strong
He said Maseno has for 12 decades stood strong, and it was time to upgrade the infrastructure.
“Empires have risen and faded. Governments have changed. Political seasons have come and gone. Yet Maseno has endured, producing leaders, scholars, clergy, scientists, public servants, and patriots who helped shape Kenya and East Africa into what they are today. We honoured that rich legacy today with a pledge to upgrade learning facilities at the institution, some of which were built by Maseno’s founders, the Church Missionary Society, in 1906,” he said.
He said while many schools rise and fall with seasons and circumstances, Maseno has consistently remained among the leading centres of academic excellence in Kenya.
“That consistency is not accidental. It is the product of culture, discipline, institutional pride, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” he said.
