Ministry Of Education Releases New KCSE Set Books For 2022-2026

The Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) has unveiled a new set of literature books for English and Kiswahili Fasihi for the period starting 2022 to 2026 for all secondary schools.

In a statement shared on Thursday, January 13, 2022, for the compulsory literature set books, students will now study Fathers of Nations, which is a novel, replacing Blossoms of the Savannah.

According to the ministry, the texts will be rolled out in April this year for Form Three students while others will be released in January 2023.

The current set books that are now being phased out have been in play since 2017 in accordance with the set duration of five years.

KICD stated that for the compulsory play, learners will be reading The Samaritan by John Lara, which is replacing A Doll’s House by Henry Ibsen.

For the optional set books, learners will choose to study Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro. It will be replacing The Pearly by Jon Steinbeck.

The other optional book will be in the anthology of short stories category, where students can pick to study A silent Song and Other Stories edited by Godwin Sundu. This is a replacement for Memories We Lost by Chris Wanjala.

“This is to inform you that the final phase of set books for Literature in English and Fasihi ya Kiswahili for secondary schools for the period 2022-2026 has been finalized,” read a statement by KICD Director of Quality Assurance Mary Gaturu to all secondary school heads

“Some of the texts are to be studied by Form 3 students beginning April while others are scheduled to commence in January 2023.”

‘A Silent Song and Other Stories edited by Godwin Siundu’ will be the optional anthology of short stories that is set to replace ‘Memories We Lost’ by Chris Wanjala.

The optional play that comes in to take the place of David Mulwa’s ‘inheritance’ is ‘A Parliamentary of Owls’ by Adipo Sidang. On the Fasihi ya Kiswahili’s Tamthilia category, ‘Bembea’ by Timothy Moriasi will replace ‘Kigogo’ by Pauline Kea Kyovi.

‘Mapambazuko ya Machweo na Hadithi Nyingine’ is the Hadithi Fupi that will set in for ‘Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine’ by Aliya Chokocho na Dumu Kayanda. On Riwaya, ‘Nguu za Jadi’ by Prof Clara Momanyi will replace the current ‘Chozi La Heri’ by Assumpta K. Matei

In regard to the rising cases of fraud and copyright issues in purchasing copies, the ministry has cautioned students, teachers, and parents against falling prey to fraudsters.

It implored them to watch out for approval by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and laid out other features to consider so as to procure genuine copies with the intended content

Schools will be closing in the first week of March to allow for KCPE and KCSE examinations that start on March 4 and 11 respectively.

Read More: How To Change A Misspelt Name And Replace A Lost KCSE/KCPE Certificate