St. Mary's School, Yala

St. Mary’s School Yala is an extra county school for boys situated along 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. Yala Opened it’s 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. Over 1200 students attend the school each year and has a teaching staff of 40.

The student body is headed by the Chairman of the student leadership council .The position is currently held by Silas Omondi Ooko(2017/18) succeeding James Emmanuel Okore(2016/18) (Head Boy) together with secretaries( Secretary General, Secretary of Academics, Housing and catering,Students Welfare, Environment and Organizing Secretary) and councillors. "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.

There is a total of 13 dormitories that are divided into zones i.e.

1.Northern Zone's dormitories include: Stam House, Kennedy House, Brandsma House.

2.Central Zone's dormitories include:Rugambwa, Farmar/Tom Mboya, Bouma Kodhek

3.Eastern Zone's dormitories include: Hall house, Annex I ,Annex II ,Kizito

3.Southern zone's dormitories include: Lambert, Grace Ogot and Lwanga

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 and came in Third Place in 2017 and was able to proceed to Uganda for the EA championship.

The school was headed by 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 brought on board a wealth of experience from St. Joseph Rapogi and Kisumu boys. Mrs. Rosemary Abuodha Omogo (Deputy Principal) deputized him till 2006 when Mr. Sammy Onyango took over as deputy Prinripal after Mrs Rosemary was transferred and promoted to the position of principal head on a different school. Mr Sammy Onyango too was been promoted to Kilgoris Boys High school as the new Principal and his place was 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. Denis Oyako. Mr Awiti,the former chairman and later secretary-general of Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA) retired in 2016 and was replaced by Mr. B Ollando(Yala,86)who is also an alumni of the school.

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