Maranda High School, located in Bondo, Siaya County, has a rich history dating back to 1919 when it was founded by the late Shadrack Osewe Agot, a divinity teacher in Kapiyo village.
Originally a small institution that taught reading, writing, and Christianity to the elderly, the school has grown over the years to become one of the most prestigious in the country, renowned for its academic excellence and notable alumni.
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Formal elementary education at the school started in 1926 with the help of the Church Missionary Society (CMS), and by 1927, it had become a boarding institution. Despite its modest beginnings, Maranda High School has established a reputation for academic excellence over the years.
The school consistently performs well in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams, ranking first in 2011 and placing in the top ten in other years.
In the 2022 KCSE results, Maranda High School once again proved its academic prowess by posting impressive results.
The school presented a candidature of 605 students and recorded a mean score of 9.5455, making it one of the top schools in Nyanza region. Furthermore, the school managed to send 567 of its students directly to university, translating to a remarkable 90.18% of the total candidature.
These exceptional results can be attributed to the excellent leadership of Principal Edwin Nemachanja, who won the Principal of the Year (POYA) award for the Nyanza region in May 2019.
Of the 605 candidates who sat for the 2022 KCSE exams, 68 scored straight As, while 143 scored A minus (A -).
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The distribution of grades was as follows: A (68), A- (143), B+ (144), B (89), B- (71), C+ (52), C (24), C- (13), and D+ (1).
Despite its success, Maranda High School has faced significant challenges in recent years. In September 2012, the school was forced to temporarily close when a fire broke out in one of its dormitories.
Tragically, another major fire occurred in January 2013, which destroyed two more dormitories. Regrettably, the school has also had to contend with two more fires in 2021.
Over the years, Maranda High School has produced many notable alumni, including former Prime Minister of Kenya Raila Amolo Odinga and his brother Dr. Oburu Oginga, who attended the school in 1962.
Other alumni include the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Karachuonyo MP James Rege, Justice Nicholas Ombija, and preacher PC Peter Raburu. Celebrated journalists David Ohito, Isaac Omulo Okoth, John Lawrence, and Bethwel Oduo also attended Maranda High School.
The school’s alumni have made significant contributions to various fields, including politics, law, journalism, and education.
