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 700 students  attend the school each year and has a teaching staff of 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 There 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. The school played an important role in the spread of Christianity and education development in post-colonial Kenya alongside Maseno School, Kabaa High School Alliance High School. Student life. The student body is headed by the Chairman of the student leadership council. The position is currently held by Nobert Okoth(2021/22) succeeding Allan Rodgers (2020/2021) (Head Boy) together with secretaries (Secretary General, Secretary of Academics, Housing and catering, Students Welfare, Environment and Organizing Secretary) and Councillors. There are a total of  16 dormitories named after founders and prominent alumni of the school. These are divided into zones i.e. 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. Administrative structure. The school was headed by Mr. Agoya 1970, Mr. J.B. Juma 1978, Mr. N. Arega 1981, Mr. P. Odwuor, 1983 Mr Joseph Owuor till 1985, Mr. John Were 1987. Marcellous K’ojwang 1996, Mr. John Awiti 2005 and Mr. Bonaventure O. Ollando 2016. 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 a lot of new projects and renovations during Awiti’s reign thus giving it a new facelift. New pavements connecting classes, labs and dormitories were laid. Beautiful landscaping around the assembly area was done besides 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 a six streams with over 880 students. The school is equipped with a library, which offers a range of reference books, periodicals and university prospectuses. The school has 22 classrooms, 13 dormitories, administrative offices and research labs. A private guidance and counseling office is also available as well as computer rooms. Notable alumni. Yala Old Boys Association (YOBA) is the alumni  organisation that brings together old boys of the school, who every now and then hold fundraising activities to help the school expand its core mission of providing quality education. Some of the notable alumni include prominent Kenyan politicians Tom Mboya, Lawyer Argwings Kodhek, Richard Onyonka, former Alego Usonga MP Joseph Oloo Aringo, the late Ambassador Maurice Omuony Otieno, the late Dr. Arthur Adhu Awiti, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi and Prof. John Lonyangapuo the current senator of West Pokot. Academicians include; Professor Ouma Muga, Professor John Odhiambo and Prof Vincent Onyango both of Strathmore, Prof. Peter Owoko k’obonyo University of Nairobi, Prof.  Peter Odera of Masinde Muliro University, Prof. Japheth O. Onyando of Egerton University, Professor Gregory Maloba of Uganda, Prof Isaiah Omolo Ndiege, Prof. Dennis Ochuodho of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, Prof Charles Owuor Olungah of University of Nairobi, Dr. Tom Mboya Olali of UoN, Dr. David Okello Otieno of Kenyatta University, Philosopher Prof. Henry Odera Oruka, Political Scientist Dr. Otieno Ong'ayo (Antony) (International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam). Others notable in cutting edge scientific research include Dr. John Onam Onyatta, of Nairobi University, Dr. John B. Awuor of University of Nairobi, Dr. Maurice  Msanya, Dr. Dennis Ndolo (ICGED), Dr. Tom Odhiambo Ouna, Dr. Fred Odhiambo Osowo, Dr. Fredrick Z. A. Odede of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Dr. Edwins Baraza Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology (JOOUST), Dr. George Ooko Abong’ University of Nairobi (UoN), Dr. Samson Gwer, Dr John Paul Oyore, Dr Daniel Ochieng Orwenjo of Technical University of Kenya and Dr Awuor Ponge of Africa Policy Centre (APC). Notable alumni in the medical field include Dr. Patrick Apopa (University of Arkansas, Prof. Joachim Osur Vice Chancellor of Amref International University, Dr. Spala Ohaga (Kisumu), Dr. John Mumia Natala (Senior Doctor and Dentist Nyanza) Dr. Bonaventure Aman, Dr. Steve Ger (ICIPE Judges and prominent lawyers include the late Justice Masime, Justice George Odunga, Justice Fred Radido, Justice Emmanuel O'kubasu, Judge Dalmas Omondi Ohungo, Lawyer Blaise Odhiambo (New York), Lawyer Dismas Wakla (Nairobi), Lawyer Amos Wandago (Nairobi), Lawyer Gabriel Otiende (Nairobi), Lawyer Olel (Kisumu), Lawyer Aluoch Kopot (Kisumu), Lawyer Francis Nyaithe Onyango (Ugunja) and Lawyer Victor Olewe (Nairobi). Among prominent Kenya government officials, include former PC Paul Olando, Austine Dieto, Assistant County Commissioner, Stanslas Oduor, Former PS Youth Ministry in the government of Kenya, Dr Julius Jwan  Director of Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), James Waweru, Mr. Enos Oyaya, Director, Quality Assurance and Standards, Ministry of Education, KRA commissioner Maurice Oray and Joseph Omondi Ochieng a Major at KDF. Technology gurus include Peter Othino of Telkom Kenya, Barrack Otieno - Africa GM at Aftld, Emmanuel Khisa a Fintech guru, Donald Mwanga- German based Tech Consultant, Engineer Wycliffe Baraza, Engineer George Ònyancha of Kenya Power, David Ngesa a Data Scientist and Dennis Abuya an IT Strategy professional all of Premium Strategies, David Otieno Muyai of UNDP, New York. Top Finance and Accountant like George Odenyo Finance Director at  Eaton, Steven Norberts Ochieng Partner at PWC, Buxton Ogutu of Deloitte. In the NGO world are Phebeans Oriaro Country Director, Kenya, at Innovations for Poverty Action, Fred Opundo Monitoring & Verification Manager at SOCHA/MSP/USAID, Emmanuel Nyabera of The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and international relations practitioner Peter Oruka. Prominent Saints in various industries include CEO Victor Orenge Masea, Jack Onyando, a Health Systems Specialist with the United Nations, George Onyango General Manager at GSK, Dr. Edwine Ochieng Executive Director Move on Afrika consulting Ltd. and a Member of various NGO Boards, Tom Arody, an HRM Professional with  various NGOs and David Odongo, a senior journalist with The Standard Group Limited and Kevin Onyango Ochola of Kvoch research and Consultants, Peter Owenje of IBM, Engineer Martin Otieno Ogada of UNILEVER KENYA LTD, Jacktone Oduor Onyango, David Obor of CDC Kemri In sports world, prominent Saints include 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 Saint Marys alumni in  the field of entertainment notably KenRazy of the TiChi fame, GKon, Nicholas Okwach of Heartstrings Entertainment, one of the biggest theatre groups in the country, Kenyan comedian Erastus Otieno aka Flaq and Brian Ongiyo, known for his contribution in the Kenya National Drama Festival.