Kapsabet Boys High School garnered national attention when it made history by sending all 461 students who sat for the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) to university, securing its position as the top-performing school in the country. Embracing the motto “strive to excel,” the school also produced the best special needs candidate, Reuben Osoro Branton, who achieved an impressive mean score of 83.489. Remarkably, only one candidate scored a C+.
About Chief Principal Mr. Kipchumba Maiyo
Mr. Kipchumba Maiyo, who became Kapsabet Boys’ principal in July 2010, has led the school to its prestigious status. Initially aspiring to be a lawyer, he narrowly missed the law school admission criteria by a single point. Despite this setback, Maiyo pursued a different path and, through determination and resilience, has become the head of Kenya’s top school.
His teaching career began in 1994, and he quickly demonstrated leadership skills. Maiyo was appointed deputy principal at Cheptil Secondary School, which at the time had just 54 students and was on the brink of closure. Under his leadership, the school’s enrollment skyrocketed to 800 students, and it became a powerhouse in volleyball within Kenya. With 28 years of teaching experience, Maiyo’s journey has been defined by consistent growth and exceptional leadership.
Elevation to National Status
Maiyo took the helm at Kapsabet Boys in 2010, and under his guidance, the school was elevated to national status in an effort to promote equality in the education sector. Initially, the school admitted only local students. However, with its new status, Kapsabet Boys began attracting top-performing students from across Kenya, many of whom had scored over 400 marks in the KCPE exams.
Mr. Maiyo explained that these students were already high achievers, so the school worked to ensure their primary school performance didn’t drop. His leadership set a high academic standard, and in 2019, Kapsabet Boys ranked as the second-best school nationally in the KCSE exams. In 2020, the school achieved an outstanding 10.5 mean score, surpassing other top schools to claim the top spot. The school further improved in 2021, maintaining its first-place ranking with an increased mean score of 10.7 points. As of 2021, over 99,000 students applied for the 500 available spots at Kapsabet Boys, a testament to the school’s esteemed reputation.
Mr. Maiyo’s Leadership Style
Mr. Maiyo fosters an open-door policy at Kapsabet Boys, encouraging students to freely approach any staff member with concerns. This policy has helped the school maintain exceptional discipline, which in turn supports its academic achievements. Recognizing that maintaining excellence is more challenging than reaching the top, Maiyo has introduced various strategies to ensure students continue to perform well.
One of these strategies involves targeting weaker students. The school organizes remedial lessons to support those struggling academically, helping them improve their grades. As Maiyo puts it, “As we sharpen the head, we cut the tail by organizing remedial classes to coach weaker students and elevate their performance.”
Notable Alumni
Kapsabet Boys has produced several prominent leaders, including the current Deputy President, William Ruto, and former President Daniel arap Moi, both of whom attended the institution.
