Kagumo High School stands among Kenya’s top boys’ national schools. It was one of the first institutions in the country to allow native black Africans to sit for university entrance exams as early as 1946.
The foundation of Kagumo High School dates back to the colonial era, with a turning point in 1942 when Miss Stott succeeded Miss Kerby as head.
At the time, the school was grappling with overcrowding and outdated facilities, prompting a push for expansion
By 1944, the government had approved a new 100-acre site on Kileleshwa Hill.
An initial allocation of £150 was made in the 1945 budget, eventually growing to a total development cost of £700,000.
Kagumo High School history
Construction of the new school began, and in 1950, 100 boarders moved into two newly built dormitories on the still-developing campus.
At that stage, the grounds were bare—trees, gardens, the chapel, library, and swimming pool had yet to be added
All capital development was funded by the government until the early 1980s when cost-sharing between parents and the government was introduced.
The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) was formally established on July 12, 1979, spearheaded by Professor Joseph M. Mungai, who became the first chairman.
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The executive committee included respected figures such as Ven. John Kago, Prof. F. A. Mutere, Mrs. Grace Ogot, and Mr. Davidson Ngini, among others.
In addition, the PTA was officially registered in October 1979 and played a vital role in supporting school development.
Over the years, Kagumo has produced prominent alumni, including leading lawyers, doctors, and politicians such as renowned constitutional lawyer Gibson Kamau Kuria.
The school enjoys a rich tradition of academic and co-curricular excellence, with a fierce and long-standing rivalry with Nyeri High School, especially in rugby and basketball.
Kagumo High School has experienced consistent growth in student enrollment over the decades.
Starting with just 35 students in the late 1930s, the numbers steadily increased to 150 in the 1940s, 500 in the 1950s, and 650 in the 1960s.
By the 1970s, enrollment had reached 700, and in the 1980s and 1990s, it ranged between 800 and 850 students.
Today, the school is home to a vibrant population of more than 1,200 learners
The school has also consistently upheld a strong academic record in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations over the years.
Each year, over 400 students are admitted to the institution based on academic merit and individual choice, in line with Kenya’s education policy.
Performance
Until 2023, admissions were based on performance in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.
However, this was replaced by the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), introduced under the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) framework.
In the 2024 KCSE, the school had 444 candidates, with more than 95% achieving the minimum university entry grade under full government sponsorship.
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41 students scored a straight A, while 100 scored an A-. Additionally, 116 students attained a B+, 84 scored a B, while 47 managed a B-.
35 students scored a C+, 14 scored a C and the lowest grade recorded was a C-, obtained by seven students.
The school’s impressive performance continued in 2024, with candidates achieving a mean score of 9.543.
School Fees
The government previously issued a directive outlining the maximum annual school fees that parents should pay.
Under new guidelines introduced in 2020 by the Ministry of Education, Kenya’s 103 national schools were grouped into four clusters.
Kafumo High School was placed in Cluster One (I), meaning the official annual fee cap for students is approximately Ksh75,798.
However, actual fees may vary slightly from school to school due to additional charges levied by individual institutions—such as for uniforms, motivation programs, or co-curricular activities.
Location and contacts
The school is located between Kirichu and Kiganjo townships at Kagumo near Karatina on the Nyeri-Nairobi Road.
In case you have any complaints, queries, or comments, you can reach the institution’s administration through the contacts below.
Mobile phone/ telephone number:
Postal address: P.O Box 69840 Kiganjo
Email address: [email protected]
Official website: kagumo-high.vercel.app
Kagumo High School KNEC code: 08200007
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