Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has unveiled the new list of Literature and Fasihi set-books that will be used in secondary schools and teacher colleges across the country.
In a circular, ministry of education MoE stated that the final phase of change of set books for Literature in English and Fasihi ya Kiswahili for Secondary Schools for the period 2022 — 2026 has been finalized.
These texts are to be studied by Form 3 students beginning 2022 while others are scheduled to commence in January 2023.
New texts shall be replacing those that have been in place since 2017.
Note that the duration for the study of set books is five (5) years. The new set books for English and Kiswahili and the ones to be replaced are captured on the Tables A and B below respectively:
A. Literature in English — Compulsory Set Books
TITLE/ AUTHOR PUBLISHER DURATION TEXT TO BE REPLACED PUBLISHER
COMPULSORY NOVEL
Fathers of Nations by
Paul B. Vitta
(Approved by KICD, 2021
Edition)
Oxford
University
Press
2023 – 2026 Blossoms of the
Savannah by
Henry Ole Kulet
Longhorn
COMPULSORY PLAY (Play from the rest of the world)
The Samaritan by John
Lara
(Approved by KICD, 2021
Edition)
Kenya
Literature
Bureau
2023 – 2026 A Doll’s House by Henry Ibsen East African
Educational
Publishers
B.Literature in English — Optional Set Books
TITLE/ AUTHOR PUBLISHER DURATION TEXT TO BE
REPLACED
PUBLISHER
OPTIONAL NOVEL
Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro
(Approved by KICD 2021
School Edition)
Longhorn
Publishers
2022 – 2026 The Pearly by John Steinbeck Bookmark
Africa
ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT
STORIES (Optional) A Silent Song and Other
Stories edited by Godwin Siundu
(Approved by KICD 2021
School Edition)
Spotlight
Publishers
(EA) Limited
2022 2026 Memories We
Lost by Chris
Wanjala
Moran (EA)
OPTIONAL PLAY
A Parliament of Owls by Adipo Sidang
(Approved by KICD 2021
School Edition)
East African
Educational
Publishers
2023 – 2026 Inheritance by David Mulwa Longhorn
C. Fasihi ya Kiswahili — Compulsory Set Books
TITLE/ AUTHOR PUBLISHER DURATION TEXT TO BE
REPLACED
PUBLISHER
TAMTHILIA
Bembea by Dr. Timothy
Moriasi
(Kimeidhinishwa na KICD Toleo la 2021)
Access
Publishers
2022 – 2026 Kigogo by Pauline Kea Kyovi Storymoja
HADITHI FUPI
Mapambazuko ya Machweo na
Hadithi Nyingine
(Kimeidhinishwa na KICD Toleo la 2021)
Mountaintop Publishers 2022 – 2026 Tumbo
Lisiloshiba na
Hadithi Nyingine by Alifa Chokocho na Dumu Kayanda
Longhorn
RIWAYA
Nguu za Jadi by Prof.
Clara Momanyi
(Kimeidhinishwa na KICD Toleo la 2021)
Queenex
Publishers
2023 – 2026 Chozi La Heri by
Assumpta K. Matei
One Planet
The Fathers of Nations, a novel by Paul B. Vitta has been chosen as the English Literature compulsory text.
Fathers of Nations will replace Blossoms of The Savannah by Henry Ole Kulet (Long horn publishers).
The current optional text, The Pearl written by John Steinbeck will be replaced by Parliament of Owls published by the East African Educational Publishers.
At the same time, A Silent Song and other Stories which is an anthology of short stories will replace Memories we Lost.
In Fasihi, Assumpta K Matei’s Chozi La Heri will be replaced by Nguu za Jadi by Prof. Clara Momanyi as a compulsory set text.
New anthology of short stories in Fasihi will be Mapambazuko ya Machweo replacing Longhorn Publishers’ Tumbo Lisiloshiba.
With the teachers training colleges Samuel Wachira’s A Spider’s Web will be studied as a novel while Mzigo wa Kichaa will be studied at Diploma levels.
It is important to note that even after the publishers emerged winners, they are still expected to make changes suggested during the evaluation stage.
