The Kenya High School
When one looks at The Kenya High School, with all its elegance and rich history, it’s hard to imagine that its old brownstone buildings were birthed from temporary wooden huts sitting at the present site of the Nairobi Primary School.
Back then, Kenya High was part of The Nairobi European School – a co-educational institution that had both primary and secondary schools. In 1931, the boys’ high school moved to the Kabete area and the senior school was renamed The European Girls Secondary School. Unlike the Nairobi School which changed its uniform, Kenya High has always maintained the grey uniform that started off at the primary school. The infamous six-piece regulation skirt, which many girls would fashion down to a more figure-flattering four-piece version for school outings and the red and black striped tie has been the hallmark uniform since inception. Initially, the school shared buildings with the primary school and staff housing was scattered within the compound. In 1939, the school went through its second major change, and was renamed The Kenya High School; however, by then there were more students enrolling and facilities were no longer considered modern.
By the early forties, a 100-acre site had been identified on Kileleshwa Hill and the construction of a new school began in 1945. Its design was exacting. Boarding houses were planned in a semi-circle around a five-acre lawn, with one side having the unfortunate dissonance of being 3/4 of an inch wider than the other. Perfection was everything for this beautiful institution for this bastion of education for the colony’s young women. Over the next decade, the school was completed with an administration block, two boarding blocks that housed 100 boarders, and a swimming pool that was completed with the aid of a government loan. Between the late fifties and early sixties, a Chapel was dedicated and the school library was opened. During this period of advancements, another major transition took place. In 1961 Anne Mithamo was admitted to the school, making her the first African student at Kenya High, and on Labour Day 1965, Miss Pamela Ogot took on her new role as the first African teacher at the school. Before the 70s clocked in, an Art studio and two Music rooms had been completed.
In recognition of “the grade level wealth” that was encircled within its fences, the school came to be known as The Boma…and later simply Boma. Guiding Bomerians past and present is the Latin school motto – Servire est Regnare – To Serve is To Reign. Throughout its transitions as more African girls joined the school followed in January of 1977, by its first African headmistress – Mrs. Rose Kariuki, and later that year, Mrs. M. W. Wanjohi who took over and was at the helm up until August of 1999 when she retired; and as the 12 school houses changed names to reflect the post-colonial Kenya with names like Tausi, Sabaki, and Yala, its true DNA has remained unchanged.
The Kenya High School has been a place where bonds grow, the community is upheld and excellence in achievements is expected, whether academically, on the sports field or in leadership. It’s often been on the list of schools with stellar academic performance in both Nairobi and the rest of the nation and has long secured its place among the list of notable national schools. From temporary buildings to a famed national institution, The Kenya High School’s journey bears the fruit of both time and tradition.
Now we’d like to hear from the women that are proud to call themselves Bomerians. Mpo? Share with us your memories of this #KeSchool.
