Rabai, Nairobi and Maseno Among Kenya’s Oldest Schools Founded Before Independence [Full List]

Kenya’s education system began in the mid-19th century, when Christian missionaries and the colonial administration established some of the country’s earliest learning institutions.

Before Kenya attained independence in 1963, these schools’ main roles were to spread literacy and train the clergy and civil servants.

The earliest learning institution in Kenya was Rabai School near Mombasa, founded in 1846, and other institutions, including Nairobi School, Maseno School, and Alliance High School.

Over the years, the schools have evolved from formal education institutions to top national schools in the country, and their names have also changed.

Missionary Schools in Kenya

The history of formal education in Kenya began through the work of Christian missionaries, who established schools with churches and mission stations.

Rabai School was founded in 1846 by German missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf of the Church Missionary Society in present-day Kilifi County.

Krapf’s objective was to spread Christianity among local communities, but the school also became a center for literacy, language studies, and vocational training.

The missionary approach to education expanded in the early 20th century with the establishment of schools such as the Friends Africa Industrial Mission School in 1903, founded by Quaker missionaries from the United States.

The institution, now known as Friends School Kaimosi, became an important center for both religious and educational activities in western Kenya.

Maseno School was established in 1906 by the Church Missionary Society after local leaders donated land for educational and missionary work.

Other mission-founded institutions included Tumutumu Mission School, established in Nyeri in 1908, Thogoto School in Kiambu in 1910, Kaimosi Girls High School in 1920, and St. Mary’s School, Yala, in 1927

Early Colonial Government Established Schools

Alongside missionary institutions, the British colonial administration established schools to serve various racial communities under the colonial system.

Many of these institutions later evolved into some of Kenya’s most prestigious national schools.

Nairobi School, originally known as Prince of Wales School, was founded in 1902 to educate the children of European settlers living in the colony.

In 1906, the Government Indian School was established to cater primarily to the Asian community. The institution later became The Duke of Gloucester School before adopting its current name, Jamhuri High School, after independence.

Kenya High School was established in 1908 as the Kenya European Girls’ High School to educate girls from the European settler community.

Other early government-supported institutions included Machakos School, established in 1925, and Kabaa Boys High School in Machakos County, founded in 1923.

Pre-Independence Schools in Kenya

Several institutions established during the colonial period would later become synonymous with academic excellence and leadership development in independent Kenya.

Mang’u High School, founded in 1925 by Catholic missionaries, quickly established itself as a premier institution for African students.

Alliance High School and Alliance Girls High School were both established in 1926 through cooperation among Protestant missionary organizations to provide education opportunities for Africans during the colonial period.

Other historic institutions established before independence include Moi Girls High School, Eldoret, originally founded as Highlands High School in 1928, and Kitale School, established in 1929.

School	Original Name	Year Established	Founder	Purpose of Establishment	County
Rabai School	Rabai Mission School	1846	German missionary Johann Ludwig Krapf and the Church Missionary Society (CMS)	To spread Christianity, literacy, and vocational education	Kilifi
Nairobi School	Prince of Wales School	1902	British colonial government	To educate the children of European settlers	Nairobi
Friends School Kaimosi	Friends Africa Industrial Mission School	1903	Quaker missionaries from the United States	To provide Christian and formal education	Vihiga
Maseno School	Maseno School	1906	Church Missionary Society (CMS)	To train Christian converts and provide formal education	Kisumu
Jamhuri High School	Government Indian School	1906	British colonial administration	To educate children of the Asian community	Nairobi
Tumutumu Girls’ High School	Tumutumu Mission School	1908	Church of Scotland Mission	To provide missionary and formal education	Nyeri
The Kenya High School	Kenya European Girls’ High School	1908	British colonial government	To educate European girls in the colony	Nairobi
Thogoto Teachers Training College	Thogoto School	1910	Church of Scotland Mission	To train teachers and clergy and provide formal education	Kiambu
Kaimosi Girls High School	Kaimosi Girls High School	1920	Quaker missionaries	To educate African girls and spread Christianity	Vihiga
Kabaa Boys High School	Kabaa Mission School	1923	Catholic missionaries	To provide formal and religious education	Machakos
Machakos School	Machakos Government African School	1925	British colonial government	To educate African boys for administrative and professional roles	Machakos
Mang’u High School	Mang’u High School	1925	Holy Ghost Fathers (Catholic missionaries)	To provide secondary education to African boys	Kiambu
Alliance High School	Alliance High School	1926	Alliance of Protestant missionary societies	To provide advanced education for African students	Kiambu
Alliance Girls High School	Alliance Girls High School	1926	Alliance of Protestant missionary societies	To provide advanced education for African girls	Kiambu
St. Mary’s School Yala	St. Mary’s School Yala	1927	Mill Hill Missionaries	To provide Catholic and formal education	Siaya
Moi Girls High School, Eldoret	Highlands High School	1928	Colonial administration and missionary educators	To provide formal secondary education	Uasin Gishu
Kitale School	Kitale School	1929	British colonial administration	To educate the children of settlers and local communities	Trans Nzoia