With the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations drawing closer, the Kiswahili department at St. Agnes Girls Senior School–Shibuye, formerly Arap Moi Girls High School–Shibuye, is leaving nothing to chance in its ambitious pursuit of a 10.6 mean score in Kiswahili.

Located in the Khayega area of Kakamega East Sub-County, Kakamega County, the school has its eyes firmly fixed on academic excellence as its 302 candidates, proudly identifying themselves as “The 2026 Eagles Class,” prepare to spread their wings and soar to greater heights.

For St. Agnes Girls Shibuye, Kiswahili is more than just another examinable subject. It is a perennial pillar of academic performance, a reliable booster of the school’s overall mean score and a subject whose contribution could prove decisive in the school’s quest for a 7.5 mean score in the 2026 KCSE examinations.

The question is no longer whether Kiswahili can make a difference. The real question is how high the Eagles can fly.

2025 KCSE RESULTS: A POWERFUL FOUNDATION FOR THE 10.6 DREAM

The 2025 KCSE Kiswahili results provide compelling evidence of the department’s strength, consistency and determination to sustain a culture of excellence.

Out of 350 candidates, the school posted an impressive mean score of 9.85, supported by a remarkable concentration of candidates in the upper grade bands.

The grade distribution tells a story of exceptional performance:

• - 20 candidates attained Grade A.
• - 87 candidates attained Grade A−.
• - 135 candidates attained Grade B+.
• - 64 candidates attained Grade B.
• - 33 candidates attained Grade B−.
• - 12 candidates attained Grade C+.
• - 1 candidate attained Grade C.

These results translate into an extraordinary achievement: 242 out of 350 candidates, approximately 69.1%, attained B+ and above. An even more striking 306 candidates, representing 87.4%, scored B and above.

Furthermore, 327 candidates, equivalent to 93.4%, attained B− and above, while only one candidate scored C, the lowest grade recorded in the supplied results.

The 2025 performance demonstrates a department capable of delivering strong results across a large candidature rather than relying on the performance of a handful of top students. With 107 candidates scoring A and A− combined, and another 135 attaining B+, the school demonstrated considerable depth in its Kiswahili performance.

Such a distribution reflects the potential of a coordinated department that works to raise the performance of the entire class while nurturing top achievers.

The 2025 results are not merely figures on a results sheet. They are a statement of professional commitment, institutional support and a shared belief that excellence is attainable when teachers and learners work towards a common goal.

The challenge for the 2026 team is to build on this foundation and transform the impressive 9.85 mean score into an even stronger performance.

MEET THE KISWAHILI TASKFORCE BEHIND THE EAGLES’ AMBITION

Behind every impressive examination result lies a team of professionals who turn targets into daily routines, classroom instruction into mastery and learners’ potential into measurable achievement.

At St. Agnes Girls Shibuye, the Kiswahili department is endowed with a taskforce whose members bring experience, teamwork, dedication and a strong sense of responsibility to the academic journey of the learners.

The team comprises:

• 1. Madam Metrine Olonga – Deputy Principal in charge of Academics and long-serving Head of Department, Kiswahili.
• 2. Mr. Collins Kidamani – Head of Subject, Kiswahili.
• 3. Madam Sophie Magoma – Kiswahili teacher.
• 4. Mr. Benson Nyongesa Obote – Kiswahili teacher.
• 5. Mr. Hillary Muyeyia – Kiswahili teacher.
• 6. Madam Charity Javaiza – Kiswahili teacher.
• 7. Madam Yvonne Achieng’ – Kiswahili teacher.

This is a team whose work extends beyond the ordinary boundaries of lesson preparation and classroom instruction. Its members invest their time, energy and professional expertise in preparing candidates for the demands of the national examination.

Their approach is anchored in collaboration, shared responsibility, continuous revision, examination-oriented practice and a willingness to learn from colleagues beyond the school.

The department also benefits from professional networks with other schools and teachers whose ideas, experiences and approaches add value to the learning process. Such collaboration creates opportunities for benchmarking, sharing effective teaching strategies and identifying areas that require additional attention.

In the pursuit of a 10.6 mean score, the team understands that no teacher works in isolation. Every lesson, revision session, assessment and intervention contributes to the final outcome.

MADAM DAMARIS MULUNDA: LEADERSHIP THAT SUPPORTS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

At the helm of the institution is Chief Principal Madam Damaris Mulunda, a seasoned education manager and experienced Kiswahili teacher who took over the leadership mantle following the retirement of Dr. Electine Ayiela Wabuyabo.

Her professional background in Kiswahili gives her a valuable understanding of the subject’s academic demands, while her leadership responsibilities place her in a strategic position to support the department’s ambitions.

The pursuit of quality results requires more than individual teacher effort. It requires an administration that provides direction, encourages accountability, supports academic programmes and creates an environment in which teachers and learners can perform at their best.

The Kiswahili team acknowledges the support it receives from the principal’s office. This relationship between academic leadership and subject-level implementation remains an important ingredient in the school’s pursuit of its 2026 targets.

The transition in school leadership has not diminished the department’s ambition. Instead, the focus remains on sustaining the school’s established strengths while identifying new opportunities to improve performance.

FIVE YEARS OF COLLABORATION: MALATA BENSON COMMENDS THE TEAM

For the fifth year running, I have had the privilege of being invited to St. Agnes Girls Shibuye to facilitate academic mentorship and revision sessions.

Over these years, I have witnessed the Kiswahili team’s commitment to its learners and its determination to sustain positive academic progress.

My experience working with the department has reinforced my belief that outstanding results are rarely accidental. They are built through deliberate planning, professional sacrifice, teamwork and the consistent implementation of effective strategies.

Reflecting on my engagement with the team, I observed:

Indeed, the availability of the teachers during mentorship sessions has been one of the department’s defining characteristics.

Some sessions begin as early as 4.00 . and extend beyond 10.00 p.m. Yet the teachers continue to make themselves available to guide, encourage and support their candidates.

This level of commitment is particularly noteworthy because teachers, like everyone else, have personal and domestic responsibilities. Balancing these demands with the professional obligation to prepare hundreds of candidates requires discipline, sacrifice and a genuine commitment to the teaching vocation.

Their presence sends a powerful message to the learners: your future matters, your effort counts, and your teachers are willing to walk with you through the demanding final stretch.

It is this kind of sustained partnership between teachers and learners that helps turn ambitious targets into achievable goals.

MR. KIDAMANI: IDENTIFYING THE GAPS AND SEALING THEM TOGETHER

Mr. Collins Kidamani, the Head of Subject in Kiswahili, remains optimistic about the 2026 candidature. He recognises the importance of institutional support and the need to address areas that still require improvement.

His remarks demonstrate a practical understanding of academic improvement. A strong previous performance should never be an excuse for complacency. Instead, it should provide the confidence to identify weaknesses, address gaps and strengthen areas that could determine the final outcome.

The specific attention being given to Paper Two illustrates the department’s commitment to targeted intervention. By working collectively to address identified challenges, the teachers are seeking to ensure that candidates are adequately prepared across the demands of the examination.

The goal is not simply to repeat the previous year’s success but to improve on it.

MADAM METRINE OLONGA: KISWAHILI MUST DELIVER FOR THE SCHOOL

Madam Metrine Olonga, Deputy Principal in charge of Academics and the department’s long-serving Head of Department, believes the subject has a critical role to play in the school’s overall performance.

Her confidence is grounded in the department’s experience and its established culture of teamwork.

With Kiswahili targeting 10.6 against the school’s overall mean score target of 7.5, the subject is expected to make a significant contribution to the school’s academic ambitions.

However, the 10.6 target is not simply a number to be announced. It must be supported by consistent preparation, accurate assessment, individual learner monitoring and timely intervention for candidates who need additional support.

The taskforce appears determined to ensure that every candidate has a meaningful opportunity to contribute to the department’s success.

MADAM MULUNDA: A 10.6 KISWAHILI MEAN SCORE CAN HELP THE SCHOOL REACH ITS DESTINATION

Chief Principal Madam Damaris Mulunda is equally optimistic about the role of Kiswahili in the school’s pursuit of its 2026 target.

Her remarks underline the importance of aligning subject targets with the school’s broader academic strategy.

When a subject department sets an ambitious target and backs it with disciplined preparation, it can become a major contributor to institutional success. Yet the ultimate achievement will depend on the combined performance of all subjects and the consistent effort of every candidate.

For St. Agnes Girls Shibuye, Kiswahili is positioned to play that strategic role.

The 2026 Eagles must therefore approach every lesson, every revision session, every assessment and every correction with the understanding that small improvements accumulated over time can produce a substantial difference in the final results.

IS KISWAHILI AN EASY SUBJECT? THE RESULTS SAY EXCELLENCE MUST BE EARNED

There is a tendency among some people to imagine that Kiswahili is an easy subject. The impressive results posted by schools such as St. Agnes Girls Shibuye can sometimes reinforce that misconception.

But there is a fundamental question worth asking: if Kiswahili is as easy as some people imagine, why does every candidate not attain Grade A?

The truth is that there is no substitute for preparation, and no subject guarantees excellent grades without hard work.

Kiswahili demands mastery of language structures, accuracy in expression, comprehension, interpretation, literary analysis and the ability to respond precisely to examination questions.

In Insha, candidates must demonstrate creativity, organisation, linguistic accuracy and an understanding of the demands of different forms of writing. In Lugha, they must apply grammatical knowledge accurately and demonstrate a sound understanding of language conventions. In Fasihi, they must interpret literary works, understand themes and characters, and construct relevant, well-supported responses.

These competencies are developed through regular practice, feedback, correction and a willingness to learn from mistakes.

The remarkable 2025 results at St. Agnes Girls Shibuye should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that Kiswahili is effortless. Rather, they demonstrate what becomes possible when learners are guided by dedicated teachers and supported by a focused academic environment.

Quality results are not wished for; they are worked for.

The 2026 Eagles must understand that a target of 10.6 requires more than confidence. It demands consistency, discipline, resilience and an unwavering commitment to improvement.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: EVERY PAPER, EVERY MARK, EVERY CANDIDATE COUNTS

As the examination period approaches, the Kiswahili team is intensifying its focus on the final preparations.

According to the 2026 examination timetable provided for this feature, Kiswahili Insha and Lugha are scheduled for Thursday, 5 November 2026, while Fasihi is scheduled for Monday, 9 November 2026, in the afternoon after Mathematics Paper Two. Candidates should confirm the precise paper codes and session times against the official KNEC timetable issued to their schools.

The remaining preparation period must be used purposefully.

Candidates need to sharpen their examination techniques, practise under timed conditions, revise frequently tested areas, learn from previous mistakes and seek clarification wherever difficulties persist.

The teachers, in turn, must continue to monitor individual progress, provide timely feedback and ensure that learners who are struggling receive the support they need.

The teachers, in turn, must continue to monitor individual progress, provide timely feedback and ensure that learners who are struggling receive the support they need.

A strong mean score is important, but the department’s wider responsibility is to help every learner realise her potential and secure the best possible grade for her post-secondary education and future career aspirations.

The ambition of 10.6 must therefore be accompanied by an equally strong commitment to ensuring that no candidate is left behind.

THE EAGLES MUST NOW TURN AMBITION INTO ACHIEVEMENT

St. Agnes Girls Shibuye enters the final stretch with several important strengths: an impressive 2025 Kiswahili mean score of 9.85, a strong concentration of high grades, an experienced taskforce, supportive academic leadership and a culture of collaboration with colleagues within and beyond the institution. .

These are valuable foundations on which to build.

Nevertheless, the final outcome will be determined by the quality of preparation, the discipline of the candidates and the effectiveness of the strategies implemented throughout the remaining examination period.

The 2026 Eagles Class has a clear mission: to soar beyond previous achievements, strengthen Kiswahili’s position as a pillar of academic performance and contribute meaningfully to the school’s 7.5 mean score ambition.

To Madam Damaris Mulunda, Madam Metrine Olonga, Mr. Collins Kidamani and the entire Kiswahili taskforce, your dedication to the academic journey of these girls deserves recognition.

To the 302 candidates, remember that every hour of preparation, every corrected mistake and every question mastered brings you closer to your desired destination.

May your hard work translate into outstanding results, and may the spirit of teamwork that has defined your preparation carry you through the examination room.

I wish the 2026 Eagles Class at St. Agnes Girls Senior School–Shibuye every success in the forthcoming KCSE examinations. May you soar to greater heights and make your school, teachers, parents and yourselves proud.

The target is 10.6. The mission is excellence. The Eagles must fly!