Kisii County Claims Top Honours at Nyanza KSEF 2026: A Three-Year Turnaround Story

By Fred ArapToo | Published: March 14, 2026

AGORO SARE NATIONAL SCHOOL, HOMABAY – Kisii County has emerged as the overall winner of the 2026 Nyanza Region Kenya Science and Engineering Fair (KSEF), securing first place in both the Junior and Senior categories during competitions held from March 10–14 at Agoro Sare National School.

The county accumulated a combined total of 193 points – 51 in the Junior division and 142 in the Senior division – finishing ahead of Siaya County (170 points) and Kisumu County (158 points).

Speaking during the official release of results, Dr. Peter Magawe, Chairperson of the Nyanza KSEF Regional Committee, commended the quality of innovations displayed while challenging qualifying teams to raise their standards further ahead of the national stage.

“What we have witnessed over these five days is not just competition, but a demonstration of what we call ‘Nyanza Standards’,” Dr. Magawe said. “Our region has a reputation for rigour, originality, and practical problem-solving. As teams prepare for Garissa, the message is clear: maintain that standard. Fine-tune your prototypes, deepen your research documentation, and ensure your presentations reflect the depth of work that brought you here.”

A Remarkable Three-Year Ascent

Kisii’s victory represents one of the most significant turnarounds in recent Nyanza KSEF history. In 2024, the county placed fifth in the Senior category with 64 points. By 2025, it had climbed to fourth with 82 points. This year’s performance marks a decisive leap, reflecting sustained investment in STEM education, teacher capacity building, and learner-centred innovation support at the county level.

“Our focus has been on nurturing problem-solving skills aligned with the Competency-Based Curriculum, not just competition readiness,” said a county education official, speaking on condition of anonymity pending formal clearance. “We have prioritised mentorship programmes linking schools with technical institutions and established sub-county innovation hubs where learners access basic prototyping materials.”

Dr. Magawe echoed this sentiment, noting that the regional fair serves as both a showcase and a quality gate. “We do not simply select winners; we prepare ambassadors. Every project that advances to the national level carries the Nyanza name. That is why our judges probe deeply on methodology, scalability, and learner ownership. It is why we insist on clear documentation and functional prototypes. Excellence is not accidental.”

County Performance: 2024–2026 Comparison

Top Five Overall Schools: Senior Category 2026

Based on total points across all categories, the leading schools were:

• Maranda High School (Siaya) – 40 points
  Strengths: Agriculture (2nd and 4th), Microbiology (1st), Engineering (3rd), Waste Management (2nd)
• Itibo Girls Secondary School (Kisii) – 34 points
  Strengths: Agriculture (1st), Physics (3rd), Chemistry (2nd), Environment (2nd), Technology & Applications (3rd)
• Ng’iya Girls Secondary School (Siaya) – 26 points
  Strengths: Robotics (4th and 5th), Mathematics (3rd and 4th), Space Science (4th)
• Nyambaria High School (Nyamira) – 26 points
  Strengths: Environment (1st), Energy & Transport (1st), Mathematics (2nd), Microbiology (3rd)
• Rangala Girls Secondary School (Siaya) – 23 points
  Strengths: Biology (joint 10th), Engineering (8th and 11th), Mathematics (3rd and 6th), Waste Management (9th)

Category Winners: Senior Division Highlights

Junior Category: Emerging Talent

The Junior division showcased promising innovations from lower secondary learners. Top performers included:

• St. Mary’s Nyabururu (Kisii): Led with 17 points, winning Chemistry, Physics & Mathematics with “Remote Control of Home Lighting” (57.75 pts) and placing second with “Making Invisible Ink” (55.83 pts)
• Kisumu Senior: Secured 15 points across Agriculture, Computing, and Social & Behavioural Sciences
• Sangla JSS (Homa Bay): Won Agriculture with “Intelligent Crop Storage and Monitoring System” (57.08 pts), a low-cost solution for smallholder farmers
• Amasago JSS (Kisii): Took first in Biology & Environment with “Carbon Purifier” (54.25 pts), using activated charcoal from agricultural waste
• Karabondi JSS (Homa Bay): Won Energy & Transport with “Automatic Warning Lighting System” (52.08 pts)

Notable Shifts and Observations

Kisumu County: After leading the Senior category in 2025 with 119 points, Kisumu maintained strong performance but slipped to third overall in 2026. The county continues to excel in Behavioural Sciences and Accessibility-focused innovations, with Joyland Special’s projects receiving consistent recognition.

Siaya County: Demonstrated steady improvement, moving from third in 2024 to second in 2026. Usenge High School’s dominance in Autonomous & Manual Robotics (sweeping the top two positions) and Maranda High’s multi-category strength underscore the county’s strategic focus on applied engineering and agricultural technology.

Migori County: Despite sliding from first in 2024 to fourth in 2026, Migori remained competitive in Chemistry (Radienya High’s winning “Starch-Based Adhesive”) and inclusive innovation, with Kuja Special’s textile project highlighting the potential of special needs education in STEM.

Nyamira County: While placing sixth overall, Nyamira secured two first-place finishes in the Senior category (Environment and Energy & Transport), both from Nyambaria High School. This suggests targeted investment in specific thematic areas can yield high-impact results even with limited overall participation.

Educators Behind the Success

The achievements reflect dedicated mentorship from teachers across the region. Mr. Gilbert Omayio, patron of Itibo Girls Secondary School in Kisii County, guided the team behind the winning “Smart Beehive Monitoring” project, which uses SMS alerts to help farmers track hive health.

Mr. Hassan James, Nyamira County Junior KSEF Secretary, coordinated preparations for junior participants, emphasising hands-on learning and community problem-solving. Justine Binyanya from Nyambaria High School in Nyamira mentored students whose projects won top honours in Environment and Energy & Transport, including the “Solar Powered Zero Emission Vehicle.”

“These competitions are not just about winning medals,” observed Mr. Binyanya. “They provide a platform for learners to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, from climate adaptation to digital inclusion.”

Pathway to National Competition

The top four projects from each category in the Nyanza regional fair will advance to the National Kenya Science and Engineering Fair, currently scheduled to take place in Garissa, North Eastern Region. However, education officials indicate the venue is likely to be changed to a different region following security concerns.

Dr. Magawe used the occasion to outline expectations for national-bound teams. “Fine-tuning is not optional. It means revisiting your data analysis, stress-testing your prototypes, and rehearsing your defence of methodology. It means ensuring your project documentation meets national rubric requirements. And it means carrying forward the ethos that has defined Nyanza participation: integrity, innovation, and impact.”

Kisii County is expected to send the largest delegation, with strong representation from Itibo Girls, Kisii School, and Magena Girls across multiple disciplines. Siaya and Kisumu counties will also field competitive teams, with several projects drawing preliminary interest from research institutions and industry partners.

Looking Ahead

As counties prepare for next year’s competition, attention is turning to how innovations showcased at KSEF can be scaled beyond the exhibition hall. Several projects – including Itibo Girls’ Smart Beehive Monitoring system, Radienya High’s Starch-Based Adhesive, and Nyambaria High’s Solar Powered Zero Emission Vehicle – have attracted preliminary interest from agricultural cooperatives, small-scale manufacturers, and environmental agencies.

The Ministry of Education has indicated that documentation from this year’s fair will inform future guidelines for supporting learner-led innovation, particularly in rural and underserved schools. With the 2026 results demonstrating both the depth of talent across Nyanza and the impact of sustained county-level investment, the stage is set for an even more competitive national showcase.

“Nyanza Standards are not a slogan,” Dr. Magawe concluded. “They are a commitment – to our learners, to our teachers, and to the future of science and engineering in Kenya. Let us carry that commitment forward.”

Reporting for this article was based on official results released by the Nyanza Regional KSEF Secretariat. School and project names are reported as submitted.

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