Nyang'oma: Where comedian and Lang'ata MP Jalang'o studied

Nyang'oma is a public boys' county secondary school in Sakwa, Bondo Sub-county in Siaya County. The school, whose current principal is Richard Onyango, has a student enrollment of 531. It has both day and boarding options for the students and neighbours Nyang'oma , St Mary's, Magak and Mbeka primary schools.

Over the years, the school has strived to prepare students to make a positive contribution to the development of society as well as acquire the values of self-reliance, national patriotism, and sense of purpose, self-respect, self-discipline, adaptability, and cooperation.

The aim is to mould all-around individuals capable of manoeuvring through social and economic life. To this end, the institution has strived to ensure learners do well academically and in extracurricular activities.

The school has instituted and promoted several clubs, including music, students association, sports team, debate club, and boys and girls scouts. Other extra-curricular facilities include a modern sports field and swimming pool.

The school has also managed to install modern learning facilities, including a library, a state-of-the-art science laboratory and a computer lab.

Back in the day, morning mass at Nyang'oma Secondary was a must and students were forcefully woken up at dawn to attend the service. A prefect on duty made sure that no student was in the dormitory during mass.

Alumni still remember Alloys Osinde, a no-nonsense prefect who was tasked with ensuring each student was in the school hall for mass. He was so consistent that some students used to ask him jokingly: "Osinde, how much do you get paid for waking us up this early?"

Recently, Nyang'oma Secondary was in the news after two teachers died by suicide in the same month. Ironically, one of the teachers was the school counsellor/therapist mandated to address emotional and psychological issues affecting the students. This prompted the administrators to call for a prayer mission to cast out the spirit of suicide.

Notable alumni who used to wear light blue shirts, dark blue pullovers and trousers include comedian and Langata MP-elect Felix Odiwuor aka Jalang'o, Stephen Ogola, a gynaecologist based in Nairobi, Austine Ouma, a surveyor working for the county government of Kisumu, Emmanuel Odhiambo, an entrepreneur based in Nairobi, and Trevor Mano, a hip hop artiste based in Bondo.