A sense of hope and partnership filled Kibos Special Secondary School in Kisumu, Kenya, as leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the Ministry of Education, the Riziki Foundation and community partners gathered for the official handover of a newly constructed learning center. The learning center features 12 classrooms, each capable of accommodating about 50 students, along with 18 lavatories and 150 desks and chairs.
The new Kibos Special Senior School Learning Center. Kisumu, Kenya, 16 January 2026
The new Kibos Special Senior School Learning Center in Kisumu, Kenya, on 16 January 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.This expansion comes at a critical time for Kenya’s special-needs education sector. Thika School for the Blind, the country’s leading institution for visually impaired learners and located about 397 kilometers from the new learning center, currently serves about 800 students, well above its ideal capacity. The newly built learning center at Kibos Special Secondary School can now accommodate additional students beyond the 200 it currently serves, helping ease pressure on Thika and expand access to specialized education nationwide.
Left to right: Joshua Ombayo, Principal, Kibos Special Secondary School; Rosemary Birenge, Kisumu County Director of Education; Martin Evans, Counselor to the Kisumu District President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints; Fredrick Haga, National Director of Special Needs Education; and Cosmas Onywera, Special Needs Education Coordinator, Kisumu County, cut the ribbon to officially open the Learning Center. Kisumu, Kenya, 16 January 2026
Left to right: Joshua Ombayo, Principal, Kibos Special Secondary School; Rosemary Birenge, Kisumu County Director of Education; Martin Evans, Counselor to the Kisumu District President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints; Fredrick Haga, National Director of Special Needs Education; and Cosmas Onywera, Special Needs Education Coordinator, Kisumu County, cut the ribbon to officially open the Learning Center in Kisumu, Kenya, on 16 January 2026. © 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Kibos Special Secondary School, supported by The Salvation Army, serves learners with visual impairments through tailored infrastructure designed to provide meaningful educational experiences. In addition to the learning center, the school also received 20 Braille Bibles and 300 Braille storybooks.
“We want learners with visual impairments to access modern facilities. When they learn in such a complex, their self-esteem is enhanced, they become confident, and their performance improves,” said Principal Joshua Ombayo.
Speaking on behalf of the government, the head of the Directorate for Special Needs Education, Fredrick Haga, expressed the Ministry of Education’s commitment to ensuring accessibility and equity in basic education.
“The ministry is committed to ensuring that all learners, including those with disabilities or other special needs, can access education in the right environment,” he said. “This new block is state of the art, and we believe the learners who use it will be comfortable. Most important, it provides greater accessibility for all who will study here.”
Fredrick Haga, National Director of Special Needs Education(left) receives the key to officially open the first classroom from Major Omuse, the Chaplain of the Kibos Special Secondary School. Cosmas Onywera, Special Needs Education Coordinator, Kisumu County(second from left) and Mr Joshua Ombayo look on at the presentation. Kisumu, Kenya, 16 January 2026
Fredrick Haga, National Director of Special Needs Education(left) receives the key to officially open the first classroom from Major Omuse, the Chaplain of the Kibos Special Secondary School. Cosmas Onywera, Special Needs Education Coordinator, Kisumu County(second from left) and Mr. Joshua Ombayo look on at the presentation in Kisumu, Kenya, on 16 January 2026.© 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The Kisumu District President emphasized the importance of Christlike love and a united, caring community, saying, “Our message to the community and to the students is that we should share the love of Christ with one another and with those around us. This spirit of Christlike love strengthens our unity as a community. We love this school, and we love this community, and we look forward to continuing to support and improve all that we do together.”
Dennis Mukasa (left) Area Manager for Humanitarian explains to the Kisumu District President, Peter Akal that the project will be serving those within Kisumu and the wider region. Kisumu, Kenya, 16 January 2026
Dennis Mukasa (left) Area Manager for Humanitarian explains to the Kisumu District President, Peter Akal that the project will be serving those within Kisumu and the wider region in Kisumu, Kenya, on 16 January 2026. © 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.There were also representatives present from the County Government of Kisumu, the Board of Management, teachers, and Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa, to support the school’s mission. Prior to this initiative, the Church funded Kilimanjaro Blind Trust Africa in 2023 to establish an ICT hub at the school, including digital braille learning devices and training to strengthen access to STEM subjects. Such continued partnerships underscore a shared commitment to strengthening inclusive education at Kibos.
A student demonstrates how an orbit reader, a digital braille tool, works. In addition to the 20 braille Bibles and 300 braille storybooks, the school received 87 orbit readers to enhance the students learning through the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust. Kisumu, Kenya, 16 January 2026
A student demonstrates how an orbit reader, a digital braille tool, works. In addition to the 20 braille Bibles and 300 braille storybooks, the school received 87 orbit readers to enhance the students learning through the Kilimanjaro Blind Trust in Kisumu, Kenya, on 16 January 2026. © 2026 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.As the new hub becomes operational, it is expected to improve access to education for visually impaired learners, enhance instructional quality, boost student engagement, and expand the school’s impact across Kisumu County.
