By Mike Olumide & Beauttah
Litein Boys High School is one of the most populated schools in Kenya. It is the heartbeat of Kericho County when it comes to academic performance and extra-curriculum activities. Many parents desire to have their sons to get admitted here because of its stellar performance. However, the school has repeatedly made headlines on a negative side due to recurrent cases of student unrest. According to a report by Citizen TV, the students have gone on strike four times in the last three years.
The Principal
The current chief principal is Mr. Richard Sang, a tutor known for his strict nature and commitment to high discipline standards. Mr Sang took over from Julius Mambili in 2023. Previously, he served as the principal in Kaplong Boys HS and Longisa Boys HS.
While some may term him as being a high-handed head, others believe the school must be firm if students are to perform well especially with its mission that seeks to churn out students with desirable societal norms. He works with the Board of Management currently headed by Dr Kemboi and government officers.
September unrest
On 21st September 2025, the students organised one of the most devastating strikes ever to be witnessed in any learning institution in the country. It is reported that the students had been denied a chance to watch the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Manchester City.
The aftermath of the strike left the school in disarray, with defaced classrooms, tattered books and shards of broken glass. The iconic Litein Boys that had taken years of investments had been reduced to ashes.
The students emblazoned a chilling graffiti note addressed to the the principal. The strike left key stakeholders including parents and leaders in disbelief and with different opinions on how the riot could have been prevented. While others believe Mr. Sang’s strict nature could have been the trigger, others opined that students’ indiscipline is primarily caused by poor parenting.
Academic performance
Under the tutelage of Mr. Sang, the institution has posted above average results. In the 2024 KCSE, the the school achieved a mean point of 7.38, a C+ grade. The school has 3 students score a mean grade of A (plain) while 19 scored A- (minus) and has achieved a positive deviation from the previous year’s results.
In 2023, Litein posted a mean points of 7.10 while in 2022 the school achieved a mean of 7.96, a B- (minus). In 2021, the school has a mean point of 8.34, which was a B- (minus).
History of the School
The history of this giant school is remarkable. It started in the 1930s, not as a boys’ school but as a mission project. The African Inland Mission began to support Kipsigis women with various skills during colonial times. Later, in 1962, the government took it over and by 1964 it became a secondary school.
The school started having students to board at around 1968, with the first Form Four class sitting KCE exams. The dorms were small at first but over years the school has experienced remarkable infrastructural development.
Profile
- School Motto: Mtendee Maulana (Do it for God)
- Mission: To provide quality education through effective and efficient teaching that promotes desirable societal norms.
- Vision: To be a centre of academic excellence.
- Core values: Discipline, honesty, hardwork, ambition and excellence.
Notable alumni
Over the years, Litein has produced many leaders, including Kericho Governor Eric Mutai. When the news of the destruction reached his desk, he was among the leaders who condemned the havoc.
“What is the relationship between being denied to watch a soccer game and raising down millions worth of property?”he posed.
The school’s principal Mr Sang is also an alumnus.
Life in the School
Litein Boys has about 1900 students and sits on 25 acres. It is a full boarding school. The school is organised into various academic and non-academic departments. Among the various academic departments are Mathematics, Languages, Science and Technical. The non-academic departments are sports, boarding and clubs and societies. Some of the clubs include St John’s Ambulance and Scouting.
Success in extracurricular activities
Mr. Richard Sang describes the school as the main ‘epitome of activities in the larger Kericho County and Bureti Sub-County. According to him, the school is blessed with adequate fields and courts, a blessing that sees it selected to host various sporting tournaments. In 2023, the school were the regional runners up in hockey and also reached the county basketball finals.
“We always encourage our boys that we balance both academic and extracurricular activities so that we make them very active and we develop talents,” Sang said in a past interview.
School Fees
The school fee is regulated by the government through the Ministry of Education. As per 2025, the school charges KSh 40,535 per year. This covers tuition and boarding. Parents also spend extra on uniforms and other basics.
Location and Contact
The school is right inside Litein town, Bureti Sub-County, Kericho County. Its postal address is P.O. Box 60, Sotik 20406. It is along the Sotik–Kericho highway, about 20 km from Kericho town.
Challenges
Recurring cases of students’ unrest seem to be an albatross around the neck of the school. Probably, the institution should adapt an open policy and encourage students to speak up and have a chance to be listened. According to Mr. Sang, the recent rise in population has left Litein Boys with a demand in infrastructural development. The school head also says there is an urgent need to have the school erect a perimeter wall as the school is situated right at the heart of Litein town.
Conclusion
Litein Boys remains an institution with remarkable history, pride, and results.The recent strikes shows that the school has to improve on discipline, leadership, student welfare, and communication.
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