Victor Omondi Makanda: The Educationist Transforming St Mary’s Yala and Raising Kenya’s Next Generation of Leaders

Victor Omondi Makanda , widely known as V.O. Makanda, is a Kenyan educationist, school administrator and education sector leader serving as Chief Principal of St Mary’s School Yala in Siaya County. His career reflects a journey from leading a small rural secondary school to managing one of Kenya’s historic boys' schools and representing secondary school principals across the Nyanza region. His story is particularly compelling because of his own educational background. As a young boy, Makanda earned an opportunity to join St Mary’s Yala after primary school but could not take it up because of financial difficulties. Years later, he returned to the same institution, this time as its Chief Principal. The Star+1 His leadership philosophy places emphasis on academic excellence, discipline, talent development, teamwork and preparing young people for responsibilities beyond the classroom. From a humble background to school leadership Makanda's educational journey was shaped by circumstances familiar to many Kenyan families. Despite securing an opportunity to study at St Mary’s Yala, financial limitations forced him to pursue secondary education at Ndenga Mixed Day School. The experience provides important context for understanding his career. His eventual appointment to St Mary’s Yala in January 2023 represented a remarkable return to an institution he had once hoped to attend as a student. According to a March 2023 profile published by The Star , Makanda became a secondary school headteacher at just 31 years old. His first assignment involved managing a village school in Siaya County with approximately 100 students and limited resources. The same account credits his administration with developing the institution into one of the county's leading day schools. Although the report does not provide independently comparable examination records for that period, it establishes that Makanda's leadership experience began in a modest school environment rather than at a nationally recognised institution. The Star That early experience is significant. Managing a small rural school requires administrators to work with limited infrastructure, constrained budgets, staffing challenges and students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Such an environment can shape a principal's approach to resource mobilisation, teacher motivation and student welfare. His rise through Barding and St Anthony's Kitale Makanda subsequently served as principal of Barding Secondary School in Siaya County, where he developed a reputation for improving academic performance and strengthening extracurricular programmes. His next major appointment took him to St Anthony's School Kitale, a school recognised nationally for its academic and sporting traditions. At St Anthony's, Makanda's administration was associated with strong academic performance and competitive football and hockey programmes. A profile published by The Star in 2023 credited the school with reaching the country's top ten academically during his tenure, although that account did not specify the examination year or provide the underlying ranking data. The progression from a small day school to Barding and then St Anthony's demonstrates the increasing scale of institutions he was entrusted to manage. The Star Taking charge of St Mary's Yala Makanda assumed leadership of St Mary’s Yala in early 2023. Founded in 1927 by Mill Hill missionaries, the school has a longstanding place in Kenya's educational history. Its alumni include prominent personalities in public service, politics, academia and other professions. Among its notable former students are the late trade unionist and politician Tom Mboya, former Cabinet minister Peter Oloo Aringo and former Cabinet Secretary Mukhisa Kituyi. These individuals represent the institution's leadership legacy, although their achievements predate Makanda's administration. The Star+1 Makanda inherited the responsibility of maintaining that legacy while responding to contemporary educational challenges. The scale of the assignment is substantial. According to the school's financial statements for the year ending June 30, 2024, St Mary's Yala had 2,615 students, 22 streams and 80 teachers, including 22 employed by the Board of Management. The report also identifies Makanda as principal and secretary to the Board of Management, with his appointment recorded on January 30, 2023. Parliament Library Managing an institution of this size requires more than classroom supervision. It involves financial oversight, academic planning, personnel management, student discipline, infrastructure maintenance and coordination with parents, alumni and government education officials. Academic performance under Makanda One of the clearest measures of Makanda's administration is the school's performance in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). In the 2024 examinations, Education News reported that 520 of the school's 582 candidates achieved grades qualifying them for direct university entry. The results included 19 A minus grades, 57 B plus grades, 121 B grades, 177 B minus grades and 146 C plus grades. That represents approximately 89.3 percent of the reported candidates attaining C plus or above, a significant outcome for an institution with a large student population. Education News A separate school results database provides the following historical comparison: KCSE year Reported mean score 2022 7.228 2023 8.002 2024 8.002 2025 8.023 Source: ShuleZote's compilation of school results. The 2025 figure has not been independently verified against a school-issued result sheet. ShuleZote These figures suggest that the school improved from its 2022 baseline and maintained a mean grade around B minus during Makanda's administration. They do not, on their own, prove that every improvement resulted from the principal's decisions, since teachers, students, parents and school resources all contribute to examination outcomes. Raising leaders through sports and discipline KSSSA Games: St Mary's School Yala looking to reclaim Nyanza's rugby glory | MozzartSportKe St Mary’s School Yala dominates Siaya County term one games after bagging three titles Kenya: Yala Old Boys rally behind The Black Saints as AS Sports Africa donates new jerseys - SportsAfrica - Sports news | Live scores | Match highlights | Betting tips 8 Makanda's approach to education goes beyond examination performance. He has consistently described sports as a means of developing discipline, resilience and teamwork. This philosophy is especially relevant to leadership development. Students who participate in competitive sports encounter situations that demand decision-making, accountability, cooperation, emotional control and respect for rules. In March 2026, St Mary's Yala demonstrated its sporting strength by winning three Siaya County Term One titles. Rugby 15s County champions Defeated Ambira High School 46–3 Handball County champions Defeated Dirk Allison Academy 28–19 Basketball County champions Defeated Usenge Boys High School 65–21, reclaiming the title after more than a decade These achievements were documented by The Star on March 8, 2026. The Star Makanda has also supported the acquisition of sporting equipment through his professional networks. In July 2025, Education News documented the school's receipt of jerseys, balls and other equipment ahead of regional competitions. Education News His broader approach suggests that leadership development is not confined to students appointed as prefects. It can also happen through team captains, club officials, athletes and students entrusted with responsibilities in school activities. Leadership beyond the school gates Makanda's influence within Kenya's education sector has expanded beyond St Mary's Yala. In April 2024, he was elected chairman of the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA), Siaya County chapter. He defeated the incumbent, George Onyango of Ukwala Boys Secondary School, by 140 votes to 81. Following his election, Makanda identified the welfare of school heads as a priority. Education News His professional leadership advanced further in July 2026, when he took over as Nyanza Regional KESSHA Chairman , succeeding Dr George Opiyo Nyangwe. Makanda had previously served as the regional vice chairman. At the handover, he acknowledged his predecessor's contribution to mentoring school administrators and pledged to build on that work. Education News This appointment is an important milestone in his professional biography. It places him in a position to participate in discussions affecting school leadership across Nyanza, including the welfare of principals, educational administration and the implementation of government education policies. The importance of mentorship and institutional legacy St Mary's Yala has a long tradition of producing graduates who proceed into leadership positions across different sectors. For Makanda, the challenge is to preserve that tradition while preparing students for a changing economy and society. The relationship between the school and the Yala Old Boys Association (YOBA) provides an important foundation for this work. Alumni have previously supported the institution through academic awards, learning devices, financial prizes and sports equipment. The Star Such relationships can help students understand the possibilities available after secondary school. They also create opportunities for mentorship, career guidance and professional networking. The available reporting establishes Makanda's commitment to holistic education, but does not yet provide sufficient evidence to document the specific student leadership mentorship programmes, prefect training structures or graduate career outcomes introduced during his tenure. Those details would be valuable in assessing the longer-term impact of his administration. A leadership philosophy built around opportunity There is a striking connection between Makanda's personal journey and the responsibilities he now carries. As a young student, he could not afford to attend St Mary's Yala. Today, he leads an institution attended by thousands of boys, some of whom may face financial and social challenges similar to those he experienced. His story illustrates how educational opportunity can shape an individual's professional journey. It also raises a broader question about the purpose of secondary education: whether success should be measured solely through examination results or through the character, capabilities and opportunities students develop. Makanda's public statements favour the broader interpretation. In interviews with The Standard , he has emphasised the relationship between academic achievement, sports participation and the development of well-rounded students. The Standard The results recorded in academics and sports provide evidence of progress in these areas, although measuring the production of future leaders will require following students' achievements over a longer period. Looking ahead to St Mary's Yala's centenary St Mary's Yala will mark 100 years since its founding in 2027. The milestone gives Makanda and the school community an opportunity to reflect on the institution's history and establish priorities for its next century. Among the important questions are how the school will sustain academic performance, develop emerging talent, maintain its infrastructure, support disadvantaged learners and prepare students for future leadership responsibilities. His experience in managing different secondary schools, combined with his regional leadership responsibilities, provides a substantial foundation for addressing those challenges. Victor Omondi Makanda's career is ultimately a story of educational opportunity, professional progression and institutional responsibility. From a student who could not afford to join St Mary's Yala to the Chief Principal entrusted with its future, his journey offers a compelling example of the possibilities created through education. His lasting legacy will be measured not only by examination grades and sporting trophies, but also by the young men who leave St Mary's Yala equipped with the knowledge, discipline, confidence and sense of responsibility needed to serve their communities.