Friends Mixed Senior School Kimobo, located in Mt. Elgon Subcounty, Bungoma County, is rapidly emerging as one of the most dynamic extra-county schools in Western Kenya.
The institution is steadily building a strong reputation in academics, co-curricular excellence, innovation, and infrastructure development, positioning itself as a rising academic powerhouse in the region.
Currently the largest school in Mt. Elgon Constituency with an enrolment of approximately 1,000 students,the School continues to expand its influence as a center of holistic education.
Under the leadership of Principal Moses Cheluch, who assumed office in 2024, the school has recorded significant progress in both academic performance and co-curricular development, guided by a clear vision of nurturing well-rounded learners.
According to Principal Cheluch, the institution has strengthened its academic systems, discipline, and examination preparedness, resulting in improved performance outcomes and a stronger culture of integrity in national examinations.
In the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, the school registered about 92 candidates, the highest number in the sub-county, marking a key milestone in its academic growth trajectory.
He noted that the school is now targeting a mean score of 7.0 in the upcoming examinations, with an ambitious plan to see more than 150 students transition to university in the 2026 KCSE cycle.
This aspiration is anchored on improved teaching strategies, enhanced academic support programs, and consistent performance in internal academic contests, including the recently concluded Friends School academic competitions where students demonstrated notable improvement.
“We are committed to sustained academic improvement and ensuring that every learner is given the support they need to achieve their full potential,” Principal Cheluch stated during an interview at his office.
Beyond academics, Friends Mixed Senior School Kimobo has also made remarkable strides in co-curricular activities, strengthening its identity as a balanced institution that values both classroom achievement and talent development.
The school offers a wide range of sports and creative disciplines including rugby for boys and girls, soccer, volleyball, beach volleyball, and indoor games.
According to the Head of Co-curricular Activities Bernard Matanda the institution has built a strong and competitive sporting culture over the years, consistently qualifying in at least eight disciplines at sub-county level competitions and making strong appearances at regional and national stages.
“Our learners have embraced sports with discipline and determination. We have established a strong foundation that continues to produce competitive teams across different disciplines,” said Matanda Bernard.
One of the school’s most notable sporting achievements came in 2025 when the boys’ rugby team advanced to the national level and secured position six, a historic milestone for the institution.
The girls’ rugby team has also shown impressive progress, reaching the Western Region finals held in Vihiga in 2026 before narrowly missing out on the championship title.
The teams are now preparing for upcoming rugby sevens competitions, with renewed focus and strategic training aimed at improving performance across all levels.
In athletics, the school has also recorded significant success. Junic Cherop, an athlete brought pride to the institution after winning a bronze medal at the national level and earning selection to represent Kenya in the East Africa Games in the heptathlon category, further reinforcing the school’s growing reputation in competitive sports.
Friends Mixed Senior School Kimobo has also distinguished itself in science, technology, and innovation.
The school recently achieved a historic breakthrough in the Science and Engineering Fair after its team qualified for the national level and secured position six, marking its strongest performance in the competition to date.
In robotics, the school’s team comprising Joel Kiprop and Samuel Korir emerged as the best in Western Region before advancing to the national robotics competition held at Garissa High School, where they also finished in position six.
Their performance, which involved both pre-assigned and spontaneous coding missions, earned them national recognition and an invitation to an Olympiad competition, where top performers may have an opportunity to represent Kenya internationally in Sweden.
“The robotics team demonstrated exceptional creativity, problem-solving skills, and technical competence. Their success reflects the growing innovation culture within the school,” said science patron Folidine Kembese.
In addition to academic and co-curricular excellence, the school has invested significantly in infrastructure development to support its expanding population and long-term academic ambitions.
Key improvements include the installation of cabro paving to improve accessibility during rainy seasons, expansion of water systems to enhance supply in dormitories and classrooms, construction of a modern main gate, and full perimeter fencing to strengthen security within the school compound.
Plans are also underway to acquire additional land for the expansion of sports facilities and the construction of a modern social hall, aimed at further improving student life and extracurricular engagement.
“These developments are part of our broader vision to create a secure, disciplined, and opportunity-rich learning environment that supports both academic and personal growth,” emphasized Principal Cheluch.
As Friends Mixed Senior School Kimobo continues to grow, its consistent improvements in KCSE performance, expanding co-curricular achievements, innovation in robotics, and ongoing infrastructure development are positioning it as one of the most promising extra-county schools in Western Kenya.
With a strong leadership foundation and a clear development roadmap, the school is steadily shaping its identity as a center of excellence in education, talent development, and innovation, not only in Bungoma County but across the wider Western Kenya region.
