For years, Lunyito Senior Mixed Secondary School in Lugari Constituency, Kakamega County, was little known outside its local community. Today, however, the school is becoming synonymous with one thing: producing champions.
At the heart of its rise is an athletics programme that has transformed the school into a national force in discus throw while inspiring a new culture of excellence that is now spilling into academics.
A school throwing its way into national glory
In athletics, few schools can boast of dominating a single discipline as convincingly as Lunyito has done in discus throw.
Within just two years, the school, coached by teacher Norah Atinga, has produced athletes who have not only conquered the national stage but have also earned the honour of representing Kenya at the regional level.
The journey began in 2025 when student-athlete Jaigon Kipkemboi stunned competitors to win the FEASSA Discus Throw title, becoming the East African champion. His teammate, Sharlen Jeptoo, also announced her arrival by clinching a bronze medal at the regional championships.
Rather than resting on their achievements, the duo returned stronger in 2026. Both athletes, currently in Form Three, captured gold medals at the Kenya Secondary Schools national championships, automatically booking places in Team Kenya for the 2026 East Africa Games in Tanzania, scheduled for around August 10.
Their success has elevated Lunyito from a little-known rural school to one now recognised across Kenya as an emerging athletics powerhouse.
For Principal Patrick Sakwa, the victories represent much more than medals.
“As a school and a community, we are proud of these two students. They have brought joy and happiness and have put our school on the map across Kenya and beyond,” he told Western Kenya Times.
How athletics inspire a culture of excellence
At Lunyito, athletics is not viewed as a distraction from academics but as a catalyst for discipline, resilience and ambition.
The triumphs of Kipkemboi and Jeptoo have inspired younger students to believe that success is possible regardless of where they come from. Their achievements have also strengthened the school’s identity, attracting attention from education stakeholders and boosting morale among learners and teachers alike.
The growing athletics culture has become one of the institution’s defining strengths, proving that talent, when nurtured, can open doors to regional and even international opportunities.
Winning spirit extends to the classroom
The same determination that has produced national champions is now transforming academic performance. Under Mr. Sakwa’s leadership, Lunyito Senior Mixed Secondary School has steadily reversed years of poor KCSE results.
When he assumed office in 2023, the school had endured three consecutive years without producing a single university qualifier. That narrative changed dramatically in the 2025 KCSE examinations.
Nine out of 74 candidates attained university entry grades, marking a significant breakthrough for the institution.
With 102 candidates registered for the 2026 KCSE examinations—the highest candidacy in its history—the administration is targeting 18 university qualifiers and hopes to produce its first-ever Grade A student.
“This class is highly motivated and focused. They are eager to succeed, and we are confident that this year the school will produce its first A plain candidate,” Mr. Sakwa said.
The school’s mean score improved from 2.9 in 2024 to 3.9 in 2025, with an ambitious target of 4.95 set for this year’s examinations.
One of the key reforms introduced by the administration was converting all Form Four students into boarders. According to the principal, the move has significantly increased study hours, strengthened academic support systems and created a more focused learning environment.
He also credits the school’s transformation to the dedication of teachers, the commitment of the Board of Management and administration, supportive parents and a community that has embraced education as a shared responsibility.
A rural school with big dreams
Lunyito Senior Mixed Secondary School’s story reflects a growing reality in Kenya’s education sector: excellence is no longer the preserve of traditional national and extra-county schools.
With national athletics champions preparing to fly the Kenyan flag at the East Africa Games and a determined KCSE class aiming to set new academic records, the school is proving that talent and hard work can flourish anywhere when given the right support.
