The Ministry of Education, through KICD, has published guidelines and an approved list of set books for senior school to be used in Literature in English and Fasihi ya Kiswahili for the 2026–2030 cycle. The circular clarifies which genres are taught in Grades 10–12, names evaluated set books, and explains the use of reference textbooks in the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC).
Key Takeaways
- KICD has designated specific genres and a set of evaluated books for Senior School literature (Grades 10–12) for 2026–2030.
- Some books are official set books to be studied and assessed; others are reference textbooks to support learning across the three years.
- Learners will be assessed on the prescribed genres and set texts at the end of Senior School.
- KICD will review and prescribe new genres and texts every four years; additional titles will be released later.
set books for senior school: what to expect
The circular outlines the genres to be covered each year and identifies which titles are set books. For Literature in English, genres include play, novel, autobiography, biography, short story anthology, poetry anthology, and reference textbooks for poetry, oral literature, and fiction. For Fasihi ya Kiswahili, genres include drama (tamthilia), novel (riwaya), praise writing (tawasifu), biography (wasifu), short stories, poetry collections, and oral literature.
Overview of the guidelines
The guidelines are intended to ensure consistency in scope and sequence across schools. They link to Curriculum Designs that specify learning outcomes, time allocation per genre, suggested learning experiences, and the number of texts learners should study. Some key points from the circular:
- Grades 10, 11 and 12 have distinct genre focus (e.g., local plays in Grade 10, African works in Grade 11, global works in Grade 12).
- Certain texts are designated as set books and will be used for teaching and summative assessment.
- Reference textbooks are provided for continuous use across all three years.
- Genres and titles will be reviewed on a four-year cycle by KICD.
Literature in English set books (approved)
The circular lists the evaluated and approved set books for Literature in English to be taught in Senior School (2026–2030):
- Play: Dreams Denied — James Karuga (Storymoja)
- Autobiography: Dear Mama — Kinyanjui Kombani (Oxford University Press)
- Anthology of short stories: The Gold Coin and Other Stories — edited by Prof. Henry Indangasi et al. (Kenya Literature Bureau) — to be studied across Grades 10–12
- Anthology of poems: Voices from the Woods — Christopher Okemwa (East African Educational Publishers) — to be used across Grades 10–12
- Novel: The Parting Clouds — Ken Kamoche (East African Educational Publishers)
- Oral literature textbook: Oral Literature for Senior School — Mark Chitambe et al. (Moran (E.A) Publishers) — reference across Grades 10–12
- Poetry textbook: Master Poetry — Abigail Kinya et al. (Booklyst Press) — reference across Grades 10–12
Fasihi ya Kiswahili set books (approved)
The circular also names the approved Fasihi ya Kiswahili set books and collections for the same period:
- Tawasifu: Mlemavu? Sio — Godfrey Ipale (Oxford University Press)
- Riwaya (novel): Fumbo la Baba — Kenna Wasike (Hummingbird Mussik)
- Tamthilia (play): Jahazi La Mchongoma — George Okach (Mountaintop)
- Kitabu cha ushairi (poetry collection): Dala ya Ushairi — Timothy Arege (Access Publishers) — for Grades 10–12
- Hadithi fupi (short stories): Kichaa cha Mlungula na Hadithi Nyingine — edited collection (Storymoja) — for Grades 10–12
- Diwani ya mashairi: Dunia ya Washairi — Timothy Arege et al. (Access Publishers) — for Grades 10–12
- Fasihi simulizi (oral literature): Upeo wa Marejeleo ya Fasihi Simulizi — edited collection (East African Educational Publishers) — for Grades 10–12
What teachers and learners need to know
Teachers should plan programmes based on the Curriculum Designs and the genres prescribed by KICD. Key classroom and assessment notes:
- Assessment: Learners will be assessed on the set genres and texts at the end of Senior School.
- Reference texts: Textbooks on poetry, oral literature, and fiction are reference materials — they support teaching but are not always examinable set books.
- Variety and balance: Selection in Fasihi ya Kiswahili aims for variety in plot, theme, style and complexity rather than regional origin.
- Curriculum link: Use the prescribed genres and time allocations in lesson planning to ensure coverage over three years.
Practical classroom tips and resources
To implement the circular effectively, teachers can:
- Integrate the set books into term-by-term lesson plans and use reference textbooks for wider contextual reading.
- Design summative assessments that reflect the genres and skills highlighted in the Curriculum Designs.
- Share reading lists with learners and schedule class discussions, performance readings, and short assessments across Grades 10–12.
For curriculum guidance and ready teaching materials, consult the senior school curriculum designs and supporting resources: Senior school Curriculum Designs, sample lesson notes and teaching aids available in the CBC teaching notes collection, and exam practice resources such as KCSE revision exams.
Next steps and timeline
KICD indicated that more set books and textbooks will be listed in due course. Schools should adopt the approved titles now and expect revisions every four years. Administrators and teachers should align timetables and assessment schemes to the guidance so learners complete required genres and set texts by the Senior School exit assessment.
