St. Francis of Assisi High School Kimoning: The harvest of hope has begun
The Mt Kenya Times 
By Mr. Fredrick Kipchumba Chelimo PWD
Chairperson, Jiamini Disability network Community Based organization
Email: jiamini.network@gmail.com
There is a lesson that farmers understand instinctively: no harvest is ever an accident. Behind every basket of maize, every sack of coffee and every litre of milk is a story of preparation, sacrifice, patience and faith. A farmer prepares the land, plants the seed, watches the skies, fights pests and diseases and continues working even when the rains are uncertain. When the harvest finally arrives, it becomes a celebration not only of what has been produced, but of the determination that made it possible. Education is no different. The true harvest of a school is not measured by the size of its classrooms, the number of students it enrols or the appearance of its buildings. It is measured by the young people it sends into the world—young men and women who can think, dream, work, lead and contribute meaningfully to their families, communities and country.
This is why the events at St. Francis of Assisi High School Kimoning on 31st July 2026 deserve more than a passing mention. What took place was much more than a motivational visit to candidates preparing for their examinations. It was a moment when a community stood together and told its children, in words and actions, that they matter, that their dreams are legitimate and that their future is worth fighting for.
For many years, the school faced the familiar challenges of a rural institution. University admission was not a regular outcome. When one or two students qualified for university, it was considered a significant achievement. Over time, such experiences can quietly shape the psychology of a school. Students begin to lower their ambitions. Parents become uncertain about what their children can achieve. Teachers find themselves fighting not only academic challenges but also a culture of limited expectations. Kimoning is now proving that history does not have to become destiny.
Under the stewardship of Board of Management Chairman Mr. Moris Kiplagat MBS, OGW, Principal Mr. Kurgat, the teaching fraternity, parents and the wider school community, the institution has begun to write a different story. Last year’s KCSE results, in which half of the candidates qualified for university admission, not to mention college, and TVET entries, marked a significant turning point. That achievement is about much more than examination statistics. It represents a change in mindset.
It tells a student who once thought university was beyond reach that the door is open. It tells a parent that the sacrifices made to educate a child are worthwhile. It tells teachers that their commitment can change lives. And it tells the wider community that rural schools do not have to accept mediocrity as their permanent identity.
The transformation also carries a deeply personal dimension. The Board Chairman is himself an alumnus of the school. His decision to return to an institution that helped shape his life and contribute to its future is a powerful example of what giving back should mean. Success should not create distance from the communities that nurtured us. It should create a sense of responsibility to return, mentor and lift others.
The ceremony on 31st July captured this spirit of collective responsibility. The presence of former Education Principal Secretary Ambassador Julius Bitok, Professor Phyllis Bartoo, Dr. Saina and other distinguished guests, alongside local political and community leaders, gave the students a rare opportunity to interact with people whose own journeys demonstrate that great achievements often begin in ordinary classrooms. Every professor was once a student. Every senior public servant once sat for examinations. Every accomplished professional once wondered what the future would bring.
Their presence therefore sent a powerful message: where a student begins does not have to determine where they eventually arrive. The support extended to the candidates made the occasion even more meaningful. The PS and other guests collectively contributed more than Ksh.100,000 to boost the morale and support the students. This generous gesture deserves special recognition. It was not simply a financial contribution; it was a public vote of confidence in the young people of Kimoning.
A student may forget the details of a motivational speech, but they will remember the person who stood beside them when they needed encouragement. They will remember the leader who told them that they could succeed. They will remember the community that believed in them before they had fully learned to believe in themselves. The presentation of language bags and other forms of support carried the same message. These gestures may appear modest, but their emotional significance can be enormous. They tell students that they are valued and that their community is invested in their success. However, the greatest challenge now is to ensure that the inspiration generated on that day does not disappear when the event is over. Motivation should become a culture, not an occasion.
The current initiative should therefore be developed into a structured and continuous mentorship programme. At least once every term, the school should bring together alumni, professionals, entrepreneurs, scholars, public servants and other successful members of society to interact with students. The most powerful mentors are often those who can say, “I once sat where you are sitting.” Students should hear not only stories of success but also stories of struggle. They need to understand that achievement is rarely a straight road. They need to learn about failure, persistence, discipline and resilience. Such encounters can turn abstract dreams into realistic possibilities.
The school should also establish a formal alumni network capable of supporting mentorship, career guidance, scholarships, internships and resource mobilisation. The example of Chairman Moris Kiplagat provides a strong foundation for such an initiative. The more than Ksh.100,000 contributed by the PS and other guests could also inspire the creation of a transparent student motivation and support fund, managed through appropriate school structures. Such a fund could support deserving students, reward significant improvement, provide learning materials and respond to genuine challenges that may prevent learners from reaching their potential.
An annual Kimoning Education and Excellence Day would further help institutionalise this spirit. It could bring together students, parents, teachers, alumni, professionals and leaders to celebrate achievement, discuss career opportunities, recognise outstanding teachers and students, and mobilise support for the school’s development.
But motivation must also be balanced with responsibility. Students must understand that encouragement opens the door, but hard work takes them through it. The candidates now carry a greater responsibility because they have inherited a school with rising expectations. Their task is not simply to maintain the progress achieved by those before them but to raise the standard even higher.
Teachers must continue to inspire academic excellence while developing character, creativity, discipline and practical skills. Parents must remain engaged in their children’s education. The Board must provide strong governance and strategic leadership. Alumni must give back. Leaders must continue opening doors to mentorship and opportunity. The school must also look beyond examination results. Laboratories, libraries, ICT facilities, sports, talent development, career guidance and life skills are all part of preparing young people for the realities of the modern world.
The Kimoning story offers an important lesson to the country. Education is not the responsibility of government alone. Schools are community investments. Every successful graduate strengthens a family, inspires another child and contributes to the local and national economy. The harvest at St. Francis of Assisi High School Kimoning has therefore begun, but the work is far from finished.
The seed of excellence has been planted through leadership, commitment and collective belief. The current motivational initiative has watered it. The generosity of the PS and distinguished guests has added valuable nourishment. Now the entire community must continue nurturing it.
Let the events of 31st July 2026 be remembered not as a single inspirational day, but as the beginning of a lasting tradition. Let the students carry the encouragement they received into their examinations and into life. Let the teachers continue believing in the potential of every learner. Let parents remain partners in the journey. Let alumni return home. Let leaders invest not only money but time, mentorship and opportunity.
For when a community chooses to invest in its children, it does more than prepare candidates for examinations. It builds the next generation of professionals, farmers, entrepreneurs, scholars, innovators and leaders. St. Francis of Assisi High School Kimoning has shown that great schools are not born. They are built—on synergized leadership, professionalism, community inclusion and cooperative parents f- the harvest of hope has begun
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