For years, St. Cecilia Girls Mautuma, located in Lugari Sub-County, has quietly nurtured young women with the potential to excel. Today, the institution is writing a bold new chapter, one driven by renewed ambition, strategic leadership and a determination to reclaim its place among Kakamega County’s top-performing schools.
At the heart of this transformation is the school’s new principal, Salyne Nyongesa, an acclaimed educationist who was named Kenya’s Best Teacher in 2015 while serving at St. Anthony’s Boys High School, Kitale. Since taking over the leadership of the senior school, Mrs. Nyongesa, has embarked on an ambitious journey to raise academic standards and build a culture of excellence that extends beyond examination results.
Mrs. Nyongesa, who was once celebrated as Gwiji wa Wiki by Taifa Leo for her remarkable contribution to Swahili literature, is driven by a clear vision: to position St. Cecilia Girls among the top-performing academic institutions in Lugari Constituency and beyond.
“We all have a role to play in this journey,” Mrs. Nyongesa said during an exclusive interview with Western Kenya Times. “I believe the strategies we have put in place will bear fruit. We have committed teachers who are willing to go the extra mile and students who are eager to learn. That gives us confidence that we will achieve our target.”
A strategy built on excellence
Rather than relying on routine classroom instruction alone, the new administration has introduced a series of targeted academic interventions designed to improve performance ahead of the 2026 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations.
Among the key initiatives are regular academic symposiums, enhanced teacher motivation programmes and structured performance monitoring aimed at strengthening both teaching and learning.
The school has set an ambitious target of producing more than 45 university entries in KCSE 2026 while raising its mean score from last year’s 5.43 to at least 6.7.
According to Mrs. Nyongesa, the focus is not merely on improving grades but on cultivating a school culture where discipline, consistency and academic excellence become everyday practice.
Leadership rooted in passion
An accomplished author, whose works include Tamrini ya Ushairi and Kiswahili Tekelezi, and teacher of Kiswahili and Christian Religious Education (CRE), Mrs. Nyongesa attributes much of her success in education to the values instilled through the subjects she teaches.
She believes every learner has the potential to excel when provided with the right environment, mentorship and support. She describes St. Cecilia Girls as a school blessed with a peaceful and conducive learning environment that allows students to concentrate on their studies and pursue their academic ambitions with confidence.
Infrastructure giving hope
The school’s academic transformation is being complemented by significant investments in infrastructure. Working closely with local leaders, the administration has overseen ongoing improvements aimed at creating a more supportive learning environment for students.
Among the flagship projects is the construction of a modern storey classroom block, while intensive academic programmes for candidates continue to be rolled out.
The initiatives have received support from Lugari Member of Parliament Nabii Nabwera, whose investment in education has injected fresh optimism into the school community.
Teachers say the improved facilities and strengthened academic programmes have boosted morale among candidates, many of whom are now preparing for the national examinations with renewed determination.
