The number of AIDS orphans in the world has increased steadily over the years making it difficult for relatives to cater for them adequately. The stigma associated with HIV/ AIDS makes orphaned students face many challenges that may pre-dispose them to low self esteem. This study was meant to determine how being orphaned affects the self esteem of students at the secondary school level in upper Nyakach Division of Nyakach District, Kisumu County, Kenya. Aids orphans undergo many challenges due to the stigma associated with the disease which may predispose them to low self esteem. The study used a descriptive survey research design with an ex post facto approach. The study population comprised seventeen schools in upper Nyakach Division of Nyakach District in Kisumu County. Schools were stratified into Boys’ County school, Girls’ County school, Girls’ District school and Mixed District schools. Out of these random sampling was used to select one County Boys’ school, one County Girls’ school, One District Girls’ school and nine District Mixed schools. Purposive sampling was used to identify the orphans in each school setting, out ofwhich 246 respondents were randomly selected comprising 234 students and 12 heads of departments of guidance and counselling. Data was collected using a student’s questionnaire, a self esteem scale and interview schedules for heads of departments for guidance and counselling. The face validity of the instruments was ascertained by getting advice from experts and incorporating the suggestions given. Reliability was established by conducting a pilot study in a school in lower Nyakach Division using Chronbach’s alpha coefficient. A coefficient of 0.72 was obtained and accepted for the study. Data collected from the field were analysed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Data was analysed by use of descriptive statistics. The study findings indicated that orphaned students generally have average or low self esteem with boys being more predisposed to low self esteem than girls. The study recommends that guidance and counselling should be strengthened in secondary schools with more emphasis on boys’ schools. The results of this study may be used to recommend to the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders the need to enhance guidance and counselling services in secondary schools with vulnerable student populations.
