KCSE 2024 — English Paper 2
Sample excerpt question, model answers, essay plans and marking tips — crafted for revision and classroom use.
Excerpt — Compulsory Set Text: "Fathers of Nations" by Paul B. Vitta
“...Seated at the round table, Lumumba gazed across the room, lost in thought. The weight of responsibility pressed upon his shoulders; he wondered if change was truly possible.”
Why is Lumumba described as “lost in thought” at this point?
He is reflecting on the challenges ahead and the importance of making wise decisions for the future of his nation — a moment of private weighing, as public duty and personal doubt meet.
What is the “weight of responsibility” referred to in the extract?
The burden of leading his people towards reform and the expectations placed on him as a leader — obligations that test resolve and moral clarity.
Using illustrations from the set text, discuss one instance where Lumumba faces an ethical dilemma.
Model Answer: In chapter four, Lumumba considers whether to support the unpopular reform policy that would cut subsidies to his region. Although the cuts will cause hardship for his constituents, he ultimately supports the policy, placing national interest above local comfort — an ethical choice that pits justice for the wider community against loyalty to the immediate supporters.
Tip: In KCSE extract questions, pair a short textual reference (chapter or scene) with brief analysis. Examiners reward the clarity of thinking more than lengthy narration.
KCSE 2024 — English Paper 3: Essays Based on Set Texts
Compulsory Set Text Essay — “Fathers of Nations”
Sample question: "Change is inevitable. Discuss the truth of this statement using illustrations from 'Fathers of Nations'."
Introduction
Define change briefly and state a clear thesis: the novel presents change as an unstoppable force that demands adaptation.
Body — Key illustrations
- Example 1: The reforms proposed at the Summit, which force leaders to re-evaluate policy and alliances.
- Example 2: Characters compelled to abandon old ways — Lumumba's movement away from traditional politics toward pragmatic governance.
- Example 3: The generational conflict — youth advocating digital solutions that clash with established methods.
Conclusion
Summarise: all characters undergo change; the novel argues that progress requires both loss and adaptation.
Optional: Short Stories — A Silent Song and Other Stories (edited by Godwin Siundu)
Sample question: If land disputes are not properly solved, they degenerate into civil atrocities ending in suffering. Using 'Boyi', show the validity of this statement.
Model Answer Outline
- Intro: Identify land disputes as central to the story's conflict.
- Body: Show how Boyi’s family faces eviction, the escalation to threats and violence, and the emotional suffering inflicted on the children.
- Conclusion: Argue that unchecked land disputes create long-term social and moral damage.
Optional: Drama — The Samaritan by John Lara
Question: Discuss how personal sacrifice changes lives in "The Samaritan".
Model Answer Outline
- Intro: Define sacrifice as moral choice that reshapes community bonds.
- Body: Cite the scene where the protagonist gives his last coin — that act sparks others to acts of generosity and shifts the play’s moral centre.
- Conclusion: Sacrifice reconfigures hope; it shows how single acts influence collective conscience.
Referenced Texts for KCSE 2024
- Fathers of Nations — Paul B. Vitta (Compulsory novel)
- A Silent Song and Other Stories — Godwin Siundu (Short stories)
- The Samaritan — John Lara (Drama)
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