New English and Kiswahili setbooks to be used in 2018

All secondary schools are set to have new English and Kiswahili setbooks for 2018
The old setbooks have been in use since 2013 and were tested in the 2017 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination.
According to a letter to all secondary school headteachers, county and sub-county directors of education and other officials, the new setbooks will be used by Form Three students and will be part of the curriculum for the next four years.
GENUINE COPIES
“This is to inform you that the final phase in change of setbooks for English literature and Fasihi ya Kiswahili for secondary schools for 2018-2022 has been finalised,” said the letter by Dr Belio Kipsang, the Education Principal Secretary. The letter, dated December 18, was signed by the director of quality assurance services, Mr Pius Mutisya.
Blossoms of the Savannah by Henry ole Kulet will replace The River and the Source by Grace Ogot as the compulsory novel starting next year.
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, will be the new play to replace The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht. The Pearl by John Steinbeck, Memories we Lost by Chris Wanjala and Inheritance by David Mulwa will be the next optional setbooks; students will be required to choose only one from the three.
SECURITY
In Kiswahili, Chozi La Heri by Assumpta K Matei will from 2018 replace Kidagaa Kimemwozoea as a compulsory book for the next four years. Kigogo by Pauline Kea Kyovi is the new play and will remain so until 2021 while Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine by Alifa Chokocho and Dumu Kayanda will be the new compulsory short stories from 2017 to 2021.
Meanwhile, the ministry has incorporated security measures in the new setbooks aimed at reining in piracy to help schools, parents and students buy genuine copies with the correct content.
The books will have a security tag and a running foot note: “Approved by KICD 2017 Edition and Kimeidhinishwa na KICD Toleo la 2017”. The foot note will run on every page for English and Kiswahili respectively.

The release of the new set book for the 2018 exams
The Ministry of education through its director sent a directive to all school principals and heads indicating that the new set books will replace those that were released in 2013. However, some of the set books will still be in use.
The new 2018 set books for high schools/secondary schools will run for a period of five years, that is from 2018 to 2023.

Summary of the List of 2018-2023 Approved new set books for secondary schools 

List of 2018 English set books for secondary schools 

  1. The new compulsory English novel is ‘BLOSSOMS OF THE SAVANNAH’ by Henry Ole Kulet, replacing ‘The River and The Source’
  2. ‘A DOLL’S HOUSE’ by Henrik Ibsen is the new play book, replacing ‘Caucasian Chalk Circle’ by Bertolt Brencht.
  3. The Pearl by John Steinbeck (Price: Ksh. 395) (Optional book)
  4. Memories we lost by Chris Wanjala (short stories) (Price: Ksh. 380) (Optional book)
  5. inheritance by David Mulawa (play) (Price: Ksh. 375) (Optional book)

NOTE: In the three optional books, students have to choose one.

List of 2018 Kiswahili set books for secondary schools 

  1. Chozi la Heri by Assumpta K. Matei (Price: Ksh. 345) replaces ‘Kidagaa Kimemwozoea’, as a compulsory book for the next four years.
  2. Kigogo by Pauline Kea Kyovi (Price: Ksh. 325) (New play)
  3. Tumbo Lisiloshiba na Hadithi Nyingine by Alifa Chokocho na Dumu Kayanda (Short stories0 (Price: Ksh. 420)
Kiswahili set book Chozi la Heri by Assumpta K. Matei/Photo

How to verify whether a set book is original
The set books are available books shops and textbook centers. Original books have a label at the footnote (bottom cover) indicated “Approved by KICD 2017 Edition.”
Students can also verify the authenticity of the textbook by scratching a security tag on the cover and sending the 16 digit pin number to 22776. You will then receive a sms notification confirming whether the book is original.