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Late powerful Internal Security Permanent Secretary Hezekiah Oyugi founded Kanga High School in 1985 in Rongo, Migori County.
The first batch of students were enrolled even before structures were put in place — and they were housed at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rapogi, a school that would later become their arch-rivals.
Oyugi donated the first school minibus — which students nicknamed ‘matchbox’ - in 1989. The students preferred trekking to neighbouring schools — especially girl schools — rather than be seen disembarking from something that belonged to the Stone Age.
Kanga’s pioneer principal, the late Joram Ayoo, was sourced from Starehe Boys Centre in 1985, and in 1988, little known Kanga emerged position six nationwide in the Kenya Advanced Certificate of Education (KACE) examinations.
Ayoo made flogging of naughty boys part of the curriculum — every little sin attracted six strokes of the cane, nothing less.
The school, traditionally known for making mince meat of maths, acquired national status in 2012. Some of the notable alumni who ran all the way to the late Oyugi’s mausoleum to pay tribute to the founding father whenever KCSE results were released, include Tusker midfielder Brian Osumba and Collins Odhiambo, the Deputy CEO Law Society of Kenya and the late lawyer Jeff Oriaro.
Others who ate ‘zele’ (rice and beans) religiously include: Gad Opiyo, the President of East Africa Institute of Architects; Eddy Anayo, Leader of Minority in the Kisumu County Assembly; the late Tony Ogunda; Dr Allan Ochanji of the University of Nairobi; Mark Rachuonyo, the Dean of Students at Mount Kenya University; celebrated marketer, Spencer Okach — he who had Kenyans talking after spending millions on a Valentine’s date at Villa Rosa Kempinski.
Other alumni who wore gray trousers, white shirts and maroon half-sweaters include Washingtone Ogaga, UK based businessman who recently challenged Homa Bay town MP Peter Kaluma,an old boy of sworn rivals Rapogi Boys to a wrestling match — It was thus Kanga vs Rapogi fight.
Others who passed through the hands of Kaunda Ogweno aka Zab are Ngiela Benson Ochiel, an accomplished and internationally recognised grants management professional; as well as Standard Group sub-editors Mark Oloo and Edwin Anjago.
