In January this year, the Ministry of Education released a list of new English and Kiswahili set books that will replace those that had been in place in schools since 2017.
The books are to be used in schools for a period of five (5) years.
This means that the books will be used starting April 2022 until the year 2026.
Form 1 English Set Books
- The Samaritan (Compulsory play)
- Father of Nations (Compulsory Novel)
- A silent song and other short stories (Anthology of short stories)
- A Parliament of Owls (Optional play)
- Artist of the Floating World (Optional novel)
Form 2 English Set Books
- The Samaritan (Compulsory play)
- Father of Nations (Compulsory Novel)
- A silent song and other short stories (Anthology of short stories)
- A Parliament of Owls (Optional play)
- Artist of the Floating World (Optional novel)
Form 3 English Set Books
- Blossoms of the Savannah (Compulsory Novel)
- A Doll’s House (Compulsory Play)
- A Silent Song and other short stories (Anthology of short stories)
- Inheritance (Optional play)
- Artist of the Floating World (Optional Novel)
Form 4 English Set Books
- Blossoms of the Savannah (Compulsory Novel)
- A Doll’s House (Compulsory Play)
- Memories We Lost and other short stories (Anthology of Short Stories)
- Inheritance (Optional play)
- The Pearl (The Optional Novel)
Some of the books have been studied by Form 3 learners as from April 2022 while others were set to be studied starting January 2023.
A. (i) Literature in English – Compulsory Set Books
TITLE | PUBLISHER | DURATION | TEXT TO BE REPLACED | PUBLISHER |
COMPULSORY NOVEL Fathers of Nations by Paul B. Vitta (Approved by KICD, 2021 Edition) | Oxford University | 2023 – 2023 | Blossoms of the Savannah by Henry Ole Kulet | Longhorn |
COMPULSORY PLAY (Play from the rest of the world) The Samaritan by John Lara (Approved by KICD 2021 Edition( | Kenya Literature Bureau | 2023-2023 | A Doll’s House by Henry Ibsen | East African Education Publishers |
A. (ii) Literature in English – Optional Set Books
TITLE | PUBLISHER | DURATION | TEXT TO BE REPLACED | PUBLISHER |
OPTIONAL NOVEL Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro (Approved by KICD 2021 School Edition) | Longhorn Publishers | 2022-2023 | The Pearl by John Steinbeck | Bookmark Africa |
ANTHOLOGY OF SHORT STORIES (optional) A silent Song and Other Stories edited by Godwin Siundu (Approved by KICD 2021 School Edition) | Spotlight Publishers (EA) Limited | 2022-2026 | Memories We Lost by Chris Wanjala | Moran (EA) |
OPTIONAL PLAY A Parliament of Ols by Adipo Sidang (Approved by KICD 2021 School Edition) | East African Educational Publishers | 2023-2023 | Inheritance by David Mulwa | Longhorn |
B. Fasihi ya Kiswahili – Compulsory Set Books
TITLE | PUBLISHER | DURATION | TEXT TO BE REPLACED | PUBLISHER |
TAMTHILIA Bembea by Dr. Timothy Moriasi (Kimeidhinishwa na KICD) Toleo la 2021 | Publishers | 2022-2026 | Kigogo by Pauline Kea Kyovi | Storymoja |
HADITHI FUPI Mapambazuko Ya Machweo na Hadithi Nyingine (Kimeidhinishwa na KICD) Toleo la 2021 | Mountaintip Publishers | 2022-2026 | Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine by Alifa Chokocho na Dumu Kayanda | Longhorn |
RIWAYA Nguu za Jadi by Prof. Cara Momanyi (Kimeidhinishwa na KICD) Toleo la 2021 | Queenex Publishers | 2023-2026 | Chozi La Heri by Assumpta K. Matei | One Planet |