Historical Background
In January 1961 Cardinal High School (Mosocho) initially called St. James' Secondary School was born. It started as a Government aided school at Nyabururu Catholic Mission. The school was founded on strong Catholic traditions by a society of religious teaching Brothers from Holland.

It came into existence in reply to the late His Eminence Maurice CardinalOtunga's request to have Missionaries teaching in his new Diocese. This was after he was Ordained Auxiliary Bishop in 1957 and appointed to run the new Diocese of Kisii carved out of Kisumu Diocese in 1960.

One of the challenges of the new and young Diocese was the education of the young, especially secondary education for the African boys and girls. The government was prepared to support teacher's salaries.

The Diocese raised Ksh.32,000 to purchase land at Mosocho (the place of emesocho trees) for the site for the new school. The well-built (primary school on the site by Rev. Fr. Jac: Van Der Weyden was another site at the cost £40,000. The Brothers of Holland spontaneously gave £25,000 towards the first buildings. Mosocho Secondary for boys was born.

There were 30 students in Form 1, with Br Innocent de Kok as Headmaster and Mr. Austin Were as the only other teacher.) On 7th June, 1962 a transfer of the school to Mosocho took place. The new site had four dormitories namely Kenyatta, Nyerere, Sagini, and Obote. Sagini dorm was used as a chapel. Four classrooms (The 'A' block, the kitchen, Headmasters' office (the present prefects room),

Brother House and two teachers houses were built in the same year.

In 1964 the first candidates sat for the Cambridge school certificate examination, where 64% passed and it was considered a good start. In no small measure the promising beginning was due to Austin Were who worked in close cooperation with the Headmaster until he was transferred to St. Mary's Yala.

Gained fame

As early as 1964 the school was already gaining fame. It got the reputation of being the best school in Nyanza. As a result in 1965 the school opened its second stream. The school population had grown to 170 including the staff. Brothers from Holland occupied the greater part of the staff. The Brothers being dedicated and efficient in their teaching, they achieved 100% pass in the school certificate examinations. This was of course one of the best results in Kenya

As the number of students increased every year, Sagini dormitory became too small to accommodate the school population during the 7.00 a.m. morning Mass. Therefore the school Chapel was built.

From 1962 to 1964 the students had to wash and bath in the river situated about l.5km from the school compound. In early 1965 the supply of water to the school was made possible by a joint effort of the school management, students, Gusii county council and UNICEF.

In 1966 the school got its third stream, the first official boarding stream. The number of students had now increased to 270 compelling more brothers from Holland to come in to assist. In this year, the Cambridge school certificate result was again 100% pass=s. In a short period of time Mosocho was a source of excellent performance not only in academic but also in the field of sports.

In 1967 brother Linus built an ablution block with forty cubicles. This brother played an immeasurable role in the improvement of the school. By 1968, three subordinate staff houses were also constructed. The school was now able to accommodate seventeen teachers, a driver and two clerks. In this year one of the greatest harambee projects the school would ever see was completed, the construction of the running.

In 1969 the school was granted vocational Agriculture stream and the 45 acres ,was extended by 15 acres. At the end of this year due to very high demand for vacancies and the consequent admission, the spaces between the beds in the dormitories had become very narrow. For this reason Mboya hostel and Onyonka dormitory were built by brother Linus in the early 1970. In 1970 the school's population had grown to over 500.

Also completed in the same period was "A" level laboratories, Sakawa and Uhuru Ten dormitories not forgetting the then magnificient school Library. Having put in place the essential requirements, Cardinal Otunga Mosocho became an unbeatable giant both academically and in sports. It became a source of sportsmen of international standards.

At present the school is in a very bad shape all round. The academic and sporting standards are low. Buildings have developed potholes, cracks on walls and leaking roofs. Laboratories have broken drainage systems. Gas and water supply systems to the laboratory have collapsed. The Library completely lacks relevant textbooks for the present 8.4.4. system.

School Motto

Use Common Sense

Vision

Provision of quality teaching, learning processes, hence enhancing quality education for development

Mission

To establish, maintain and improve educational standards geared towards realization of national goals of education