MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
State Department for Basic Education
Office of the Principal Secretary
Ref. No: MOE.HQS/3/6/56/VOL.2
23rd February, 2026
TO ALL COUNTY DIRECTORS OF EDUCATION
GUIDELINES ON SET BOOKS IN LITERATURE IN ENGLISH AND FASIHI YA KISWAHILI FOR SENIOR SCHOOL
A. GENERAL GUIDELINES
Teaching and learning of Literature in English and Fasihi ya Kiswahili at Senior School involves studying several genres and texts.
The genres are identified in the Curriculum Designs; which also guide on expected learning outcomes, the projected time to be spent studying each genre, the number of texts to be studied and suggested learning experiences, among other valuable information.
For consistency in terms of scope and sequence, some texts are designated as set books to be studied and assessed over a period of time.
In view of the above, the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) provides guidelines on the genres and texts to be studied at Senior School in the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC), as per the following tables.
Table 1: Genres and texts to be studied in Literature in English at Senior School.
| S/N | Genre | Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
| 1. | Play | From Kenya | From Africa | From the Rest of the World |
| 2. | Novel | From Kenya | From Africa | From the Rest of the World |
| 3 | Autobiography | One set text to be studied during the three years at Senior School |
| 4 | Biograph) | One set text to be studied during the three years at Senior School |
| 5 | An anthology of short stories | A collection from Kenya, Africa and the Rest of the World: One textbook to be studied over the three years at Senior School. |
| 6 | An anthology of poems | One textbook to be used as reference during the three years the learners are at Senior School |
| 7 | Textbook on Poetry | One textbook to be used as reference during the three years the learners are at Senior School. |
| 8. | Textbook on Oral Literature | One textbook to be used as reference during the three years the learners are at Senior School. |
| 9. | Textbook on Literature (Fiction) | One textbook to be used as reference during the three years the learners are at Senior School. |
Table 2: Genres and texts to be studied in Literature in Kiswahili at Senior School.
| S/N | Genre | Grade 10 | Grade 11 | Grade 12 |
| 1. | Tamthilia | Tamthilia la kwanza | Tamthilia la pili | Tamthilia la tatu |
| 2. | Riwaya | Riwaya la kwanza | Riwaya la pili | Riwaya la tatu |
| 3. | Tawasifu | Tawasifu | ||
| 4. | Wasifu | Kitabu kimoja kwa miaka mitatu | ||
| 5. | Hadithi fupi | Kitabu kimoja kwa miaka mitatu. | ||
| G. | Diwani ya Mashairi | Kitabu Kimo•a kwa miaka mitatu | ||
| 7. | Kitabu cha Usahairi | Kitabu Kimo•a kwa miaka mitatu | ||
| 8. | Kitabu cha Fasihi Simulizi | Kitabu Kimoja kwa miaka mitatu | ||
| 9. | Kitabu cha Fasihi (Bunilizi) | Kitabu Kimoja kwa miaka mitatu | ||
B. LIST OF EVALUATED AND APPROVED SETBOOKS
KICD finalised the process of evaluation and approval of some of the set books for Literature in English and Fasihi ya Kiswahili to be studied at Senior School in CBC during the years 2026 to 2030.
A list of more set books and textbooks shall be provided in due course, as per the guide; lines in A above. The set books are as per the Tables 3 and 4.
Table 3: Literature in English Set Books
| S/N | Genre | Title | Author | Publisher |
| 1. | Play | Dreams Denied | James Karuga | Storymoja |
| 2. | Autobiography | Dear Mama | Kinyanjui Kombani | Oxford University Press |
| 3. | Anthology of Short Stories (To be studied in Grades 10, 11 and 12) | The Gold Coin and Other stories | Prof. Henry Indangasi, Charles Gecaga, Dr. Anna Kula, Muchiri Mukunga, Dr.Larry Ndivo | Kenya Literature Bureau |
| 4. | Anthology of Poems (To be studied in Grades 10, 11 and 12) | Voices from the Woods | Christopher Okemwa | East African Educational Publishers Limited |
| 5. | Novel | The Parting Clouds | Ken Kamoche | East African Educational Publishers Limited |
| 6. | Oral Literature Textbook (To be studied in Grades 10, 11 and 12) | Oral Literature for Senior School | Mark Chitambe, Juvenalis Mwairumba, Judith Onywany | Moran (E.A) Publishers Ltd |
| 7. | Poetry Textbook (To be studied in Grades 10, Il and 12) | Master Poetry | Abigail Kinya, Lucas Wafula, Otunga 0100 | Booklyst Press Limited |
Table 4: Fasihi ya Kiswahili Set Books
| S/N | Genre | Title | Author | Publisher | |||||
| 1. | Tawasifu | Mlemavu? Sio | Godfrey Ipalei | Oxford University Press | |||||
| 2. | Riwaya | Fumbo la Baba | Kenna Wasike | Humrningbi rd Mussik | |||||
| 3. | Tamthilia | Jahazi La Mchongoma | George Okach | Mountainto P | |||||
| 4. | Kitabu cha Ushairi (Kitasomwa katika Grediya 10, 11 na 12) | Dila ya Ushairi | Timothy Arege | Access Publishers Limited | |||||
| 5. | Hadithi Fupi (Kitasomwa katika Grediya 10, 111M 12) | Kichaa cha Mlungula na Hadithi Nyingine | Hamisi Babusa, Clara Momanvi, Kenna Wasike, Jacob Masika, Dominic Oigo, Rachel Maina, Evalyne Vaati, Titus M. Kaui, Geoffrey Mug’ou, Beth Mutugu, Edwin Omindo, Marcella Karirni, Muhiddin Ngashe, Reuben Wanyama, Teri Were, Rebecca Nandwa, Masoud Nassor, Daniel Okello, Hassan Ali, Nyeita Maitaria, Kyallo Muusya, Rayya Timammy, Muthoni Muchemi na Ekilah Ndung’u | Storymoja | |||||
| 6. | Diwani ya Mashairi (Kitasomwa katika Grediya 10, 11 na 12) | Dunia ya Washairi | Timothy Arege, Mwalala M. Nyanje, Joseph S. Kiponda, Naima M. Abdallah, Boukheit Amana | Access Publishers Limited | |||||
| 7. | Kitabu cha Fasihi Simulizi (Kitasomwa katika Grediya 10, 11 n 12) | Upeo wa Marejeleo ya Fasihi Simulizi | Mziwanda Banda, Dan Bobea, Ben Mandila, Joseph Kiveku, Mosol Kandagor, Dennis Mudhune, James Mwita, Nabeta Sangili | East African Educational Publishers Limited | |||||
Note:
1) These tables indicate the grades during which some genres/ texts may be studied. Please take note that this is for guidance purposes. Like in other subjects, the learners shall be assessed on these genres/texts at the end of the Senior School.
2) The textbooks in Poetry, Oral Literature and Fiction are reference texts. They are not set books. Teachers and Learners are advised to make reference to any other textbooks in these genres that are approved by KICD, like in other subjects.
3) The genres set texts for Fasihiya Kiswahili are not necessarily based on the regions where the texts were published but on variety in terms of plot, themes, style and complexity.
4) KICD shall prescribe the genres indicated to be studied every four years.
Ämb. (Prof) Julius Bitok, CBS
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY