A History of Kapsabet Girls‟ High School, Nandi County, Kenya, 1960 – 1979

Religious organizations in Kenya are empowered by the Education Act to participate in the development and growth of education in schools, colleges and even Universities. Africa Inland Church being one of such organizations is not an exception in this case. The paper has endeavoured to establish the contribution of Africa Inland Mission/Africa Inland Church (AIM/AIC) in the development of secondary education in Nandi County. The research took Kapsabet Girls’ High School as a case of its investigation focusing on major events that led to its establishment, growth and the impact of the school to the local community. The main community examined in relation to this school is Nandi which is found in the immediate neighbourhood of the school under study. The research being historical has utilized both Primary and Secondary sources to trace the contribution of the AIM/AIC to education development in Nandi County. In its findings, the paper has revealed that, though mainly interested in spreading the Gospel, Africa Inland Mission missionaries were also concerned with improving the socio-economic conditions of African communities. The research moreover demonstrates that the schools established by AIM, Kapsabet Girls being the first in Nandi region, generated a substantial group of African elite who have largely accounted for the community’s socio- economic and political transformation, not only during the period of study, but far beyond to the current times. Based on the findings and conclusions, the researchers recommended the need for recognition of AIM/AIC’s role among other missions in the growth and development of secondary education in Nandi County and Kenya at large. The findings of the paper are anticipated to provide insightful reference that educational policy makers, education stakeholders, researchers and scholars in Kenya could use in enhancing the growth and development of education in Kenya.

Keywords: Kapsabet, Kenya, Africa Inland Mission, Nandi, Africa Inland Church, Oral Interview (O.I), Local Native Council (LNC), Kenya National Archives (KNA)