Mang’u High School is a Kenyan National High School established in 1925, located in Kiambu County along the Nairobi-Thika Highway six kilometers from Thika, Kenya.
History
Mang’u High School was started in 1925 at Kabaa by a Dutch
priest, Michael Witte, of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans as
they were known in Continental Europe) . On 2 July 1913 the first priest moved
to Kabaa to start a mission on a 5-acre piece of land. This mission was
abandoned in 1920 due to lack of sufficient converts. By then, a Catholic
mission had been established at Kilungu. At this mission, Michael Joseph Witte,
a Dutch, was running a Central School for Catechists in 1923. It was decided to
expand this school to a Central Training School for Catechists. Witte and his
superior at Kilungu, Horber decided that the expanded school was not suited at
Kilungu for several reasons. They suggested Mang’u, Riruta or Kabaa. Witte was
more liberal in thinking and chose Kabaa. The choice was approved by the
Bishop. His choice of Kabaa was because he wanted to be far away from the
ecclesiastical and civil authorities and could use his initiative to get things
done.
Kabaa
On 15 September 1924 Witte accompanied by Blais set off for
Kabaa. Witte was a very happy man because he had at last found the challenge
and freedom he had always wanted to have to do something for the Africans. He
re-occupied the evacuated mission to set up a Catholic Central School. The
birth of the school was unplanned and haphazard especially the choice of the
site: a deserted mission site that is remote. At the site, the two priests were
assisted by a local catechist, Yakobo, who had been looking after the abandoned
mission church. Witte also recruited a Muganda called Bartolomeo to assist them.
The obtained building materials (wattle poles and sisal poles) from White Sisters at
Mang’u and the sisal farms at Donyo Sabuk, respectively.
On 15 December 1924, Witte announced opening of the school
though this did not happen due to delay in completion of the buildings. Witte
wrote a new circular to every Catholic Parish informing them that Kabaa School
would now open on 15 January 1925. With a light touch, the circular said in
part “….among other things, the pupils were to meet him at Thika from where
they were to walk with him 34 miles to Kabaa and begin clearing the site to
build their houses, for Kabaa was an unbuilt school”.
On 19 January 1925 the school opened with 35 pupils, drawn
from Bura, Msongari (St. Austin’s), Mangu, Kiambu, Lioki and St. Peter Claver’s
Nairobi. Some of the pupils had reached standard 4 while others were nearly
illiterate except for little religious knowledge. 19 to 24 January 1925: a
retreat was organised for all pupils after which they were all made to sign the
“Promise” to complete a 3-year course and to give 5-year service to Catholic
Missions.
THE PROMISE: “For the glory of God and for the redemption
of our bretheren, we promise before God and before our priests to follow this
three-year course (without a salary, receiving only clothes and food) and after
that, to serve the schools as our priests shall direct, for five years.”
According to Witte, the official date of birth was 24
January 1925, after the swearing in the students. Some students deserted during
February but by 18 March, the school had 43 pupils. Enrollment:
- 1925
– 45 pupils
- 1926
– 80 pupils
- 1927
– 120 pupils
- 1928
– 145 pupils
First staff: Michael J. Witte, Egidius Schisphorst (Dutch),
mason cum technical teacher (27 November 1925), Florian (Dutch) to teach
capentry (April 1927), Oomen (Dec. 1927) a lay teacher to take care of school
farm and teach agriculture, Michael Murren (28 October 1928) to teach high
school and Savinus – Building projects (before 1930) The mission was Named St.
Michael Catholic Mission.
Kabaa curriculum
1. Academic subjects: Religion (Old Testament, catechism and
prayer), Arithmetic, Swahili, English, Geography, Hygiene, Physical Education,
Singing, Music, General Knowledge (including History), Games and Manners.
2. Technical Subjects: Agriculture, Building, Masonry, Brick
making, Carpentry, Ironwork, Pottery, Local crafts, Engineering, Shoe making,
Tailoring, Drawing, Typing, Book-binding, Spinning and weaving.
3. Vocational programmes: Teacher Training – training
catechists
Novitiate for training lay brothers (1927)
Junior seminary (1927)
The official medium of instruction was Kiswahili. Francis J.
Khamisi attended brotherhood and the seminary.
Early academic performance
The first public examination was the Vernacular Examination
of 1926. It was Swahili and was done on 11 October 1926. 32 out of 35 pupils
passed.
In December 1926, during the Standard 7 Elementary C
Examination, 32 out of 33 candidates passed.
In December 1927, the B-Teacher Grade, 50 candidates entered
and 90% passed.
In 1928, B-Teacher Grade, 34 passed from Kabaa of the 140
nationwide. C-Teacher Grade, 16 passed from Kabaa of the 22 nationwide.
Discipline
According to Witte, a pupil who did not accept a few strokes
of the cane when found at fault was considered to be the wrong sort, since no
punishment was ever given arbitrarily or in anger at Kabaa. It was an accepted
procedure that before punishment was meted out by or before the principal, the
fault of the defender was first carefully considered by a council of fellow
students, after which the culprit was made to see that he had been in the
wrong. Only then was the punishment administered, usually before all the boys.
Witte would say that “You are sentenced by common consent of your peers, and
only after recognizing your guilt”. Punishments included caning and watering or
manuring the trees and flowers. Under no circumstances did he allow work on the
farm or regular forms of manual labour to be used as punishment; he wished boys
to like those activities as one of the most important aspects of their
education. Pupils found at fault at night were sent to the chapel to pray and
ask God’s pardon for their waywardness, while Witte kept watch. He always went
to bed late. There were few rules but strictly enforced:
- Juniors
were not allowed to mix with senior boys; habitual breaking of bounds
resulted in dismissal.
- No
one was allowed to go out alone but in pairs or in 3’s.
- Anyone
found loitering or sitting idle was due for punishment.
An interesting fact is that till today Juniors and Seniors
are still differentiated in uniforms, dining and bedtimes. Seniors also have a
separate route known as “Senior Route” to the dorms which Juniors are not
allowed to use. The students must also ran to class whenever the bell rings.
The School Motto
The school motto was “JISHINDE USHINDE”. It was chosen to
stress the role of discipline at school and in life generally. Translated
“Conquer yourself so that you may conquer”. It also means: One must discipline
oneself even in small things if one is to succeed. Initially Kabaa was more
intent on producing teachers because they felt this was the most urgent need of
the Catholics.
Start of the catholic high school
The Catholics wanted to start a High School but faced
opposition from the Protestants who had already been allowed to start Alliance High School (Kenya).
The Government was also dilly dallying over the issue. They even proposed that
the Catholics should be accommodated at Alliance but the Protestants made it
difficult for such a proposal to be implemented. The Catholics thought of
starting the school in Limuru. The Government delayed in approving a grant for
the school. Meanwhile, Witte had quietly started a pilot class of four pupils
in 1929. The pioneers were: Cyrillus Ojoo, Paul Njoroge, Stefan Kimani, Lukas
Kibe. In January 1930 Witte started the High School officially by ignoring the
delaying tactics of the Government. 27 boys started the first class. At the end
of 1930, the 4 pioneer students sat the Public Examination called Junior
Secondary School Examination. All of them passed. In 1933 a few pupils
attempted the Senior Secondary Examination. After that the school concentrated
on Junior Secondary curriculum.
Michael Joseph Witte’s Departure
On 30 April 1934, the ‘Captain’ as he was sometimes referred
to, left Kabaa to proceed home on leave. On 1 May 1934 he left Nairobi by train
for Mombasa where he was to board a ship to Europe. He expected to come back to
Kabaa after his leave. Bishop Heffernan decided to transfer him to Waa School,
formerly an unsuccessful school at the coast which had been handed over to the
Catholics early in 1935. Since he was a man of great zeal, it was thought he
would turn this school around, the same way he developed Kabaa. He was replaced
by Alfonsus Loogman, also a Dutch. In 1937 up to sometime in 1938, Paul White,
an Irish priest took over as Principal. The era of the Dutch thus ended and the
Irish Holy Ghost Fathers took over.
The seminary was closed at the end of 1937. Its only
candidate, Paul Njoroge, was sent to Rome where he studied and was ordained a
priest in 1942. Unfortunately he died there of T.B. in 1944 shortly before his
planned return to Kenya. The seminary was restarted in 1938 with 3 young
recruits but was moved elsewhere in the Vicariate a few years later. Robert
Farrelly took over the headship of the school in 1938, after Paul White left
for further studies in London.
Senior Secondary Class re-established
Starting in 1940, Cambridge School Certificate Examination
was to replace the Kenya Senior Secondary Examination. This development
encouraged the Catholic Authorities to re-establish the Senior Secondary
section at Kabaa in 1939. The best three pupils from the 1938 Junior Secondary
class were enrolled in Form 3. These were: Stephen Kioni, Philip Getao and
Hilary Oduol. Hilary dropped out of the course during the course of the year.
The other two were later to be transferred to Mangu along with the whole school
at the end of that year and became the first Cambridge School Certificate
candidates of Kabaa-Mangu High School. They sat the examination at Mangu at the
end of 1940 and both of them passed. Kioni was admitted to Makerere College.
The birth of mang’u high school
After school Inspectors visited Kabaa and made
recommendations, the Department of Education in 1934 requested that Kabaa be
decentralised as follows: Kabaa retains a primary boarding school, A secondary
school be transferred to another centre. Bishop Hoffernan resisted the idea at
the beginning. He fered that splitting the school would make the primary school
lose out on Government grant as only one school would be funded. Thus
decentralisation delayed until the Catholics saw their way of going about it.
The Brothers Noviciate had disbanded years before. The
institutions that were at Kabaa at the beginning of 1938 were: The secondary
school, The Elementary Teacher Training Centre, The Lower Primary Teacher
Training Centra, The Elementary Out-School, The Primary School and The
Technical School
The Catholics decided that the Secondary School should move
to a more accessible place. The Principal, Farrelly with two other priests were
asked to search for a suitable site. Machakos was suggested but rejected on the
following grounds:Land was not readily available, The Local Native Council
appeared reluctant to consider the matter, The African Inland Mission that was
already in the area opposed the idea.
9 October 1938 – The 3 priests visited Mang’u mission to
consider the site. 11 October 1938 – They chose Mang’u as the site for the High
School. 13 October 1938 – The news was broken to the staff at Kabaa. Some
priests didn’t like the idea, reason being “difficult in maintaining discipline
among the boys in such a heavily populated area like Mangu. Many outsiders
would be there on Sundays and would be mixing with students and therefore
problems would arise.” They suggested a plot 3 miles away near the White
Sisters Convent but the Sisters objected. Eventually Mang’u was confirmed.
Construction of the school
On 5 February 1939 drawings were done at Kabaa by An
Architect, Ward who had visited Kabaa. Apprentices from the Native Industrial
Training Depot (N.I.T.D.) were hired to undertake the construction. Savinus and
a European supervisor were part of the team. Work started and the school was
built almost entirely using funds from the Bishop’s own sources. The Catholic
authorities stopped funding of buildings because “Kabaa had not abided by
some of the decisions of the Vicariate Council..”. At Mangu only classrooms
and dormitories had been built. No staff houses were built. When the High
School moved to the new site, the staff had to put up with little accommodation
that there was. The Principal’s small office doubled up as his bedroom. The
other priests had to use small rooms. The situation remained like that in the
early years.
The High School moves
The transfer of equipment had to be done before the short
rains. The school at Kabaa was closed early, in the third week of
November,1939. Only pupils sitting public examinations remained behind. All
high school boys were directed to report to Mang’u after the holidays. The
other sections of Kabaa were to go back to Kabaa pending their transfer to
other places later. The High School moved out of Kabaa at the end of 1939. Paul
White who had returned from his studies stayed at Kabaa to head the remaining
sections. Farrelly moved to Mang’u as Principal, together with P. Kelly and G.
Foley. All the other teachers remained at Kabaa. The Mangu staff was reinforced
with the appointment of Ignatius Mkok (an old boy of Kabaa) who had just
completed his teacher’s course at Makerere College.
Holy ghost college mangu
“The end of 1939 saw the bowing out the era of the
‘battleship’ and 1940 ushered in the era of the conventional school.” The
school started with a completely different tempo and on a different note from
that of the old Kabaa. It was named the Holy Ghost College Mang’u. It was under
the management of the Holy Ghost Fathers (Spiritans) from
Ireland. Even a new motto: “FIDES ET SCIENTIA” was coined which is also used
by the Roman Catholic High School of
Philadelphia meaning “Faith and Knowledge.” On the surface the objectives
themselves appear to have been different, except in the basic Catholic
principles over which there could be no disagreement. It was like starting all
over again, even though officially Kabaa High School had merely been
transferred to a new site and the change of name was necessary only to avoid
confusion. The three Irish priests who made up the first staff saw the change
real and a complete break with Kabaa. They did not want any of Witte’s
unorthodox ideas to seep into Mang’u. None of the mad rush to get quick
results: hurry and tight schedules were not to be part of Mang’u life. Mang’u
was to be a typical Irish school where approach was to be on the lines of
gradual but sure development, laying the current foundations for conventional
academic excellence and truly a Catholic atmosphere. The difference in approach
between Witte and of the Irish priests at Mang’u was that:
- The
Irish believed in a school of the “European” type right here in Africa
(with minor modifications)
- Witte
– employed inventiveness and originality to try and get an approach that
would suit and appeal to Africans, even if such an approach were going to
be unorthodox by European concepts and standards.
Each one of the above approaches had its strong points.
School Name
According to Kenneth Thompson who taught English for 15
years at Mang’u High School, “mang’u” is a Maasai word meaning “that’s not me
you smell.” Kennneth said: “When the Maasai hunted lions in the tall grass,
they would shout “mang’u, mang’u” to inform their fellow hunters of the
situation!” The school was also known as “‘Dayton'” (although very few students
are actually aware of this) because of the school’s association with University of Dayton, a Catholic
university founded by the Society of Mary (Marianists) in
1850 in Dayton, Ohio, United States. Coincidentally, Dayton is also the home of
Aviation.
Opening of the school
The school opened its doors for the first term, on 11
January 1940. 49 pupils reported. Form 1:19, Form 2:22, Form 3:6 and Form 4:2.
Many Form 3’s who were in Form 2 at Kabaa had dropped out. In Form 4, the two
were: Philip Gitau and Stephen Kioni. The third student from Kabaa, H.P. Oduol
had dropped out in 1939 and joined the East African Railways
and Harbours Corporation. Gitau became the first school captain of
Mangu. The first pupils were well pleased with their “new luxurious school”
despite the numerous teething problems. The school was occupying part of the
mission land and some coffee had to be uprooted to create a playing field. The
problems of a new site were numerous. Farrelly was so overwhelmed by the
challenges that he asked to be relieved of the responsibilities of being
principal. He went back to Kabaa to teach under P. White. Peter J. Kelly was
appointed new Principal from 11 February 1940. The break out of the war caused
stress on the priests at Mangu. They were given extra responsibilities of
taking care of some missions that had been deserted e.g. Mangu, Gatanga and
Rocho. This led to frequent “free days” sometimes with picnics, Holydays of
obligation, significantly St. Patrick’s Day which took similar importance as
St. Michael’s Day at Kabaa during Witte’s time. (St. Patrick is the patron
saint of Ireland). Sunday afternoons were always free for walks and boys would
walk as far as Thika and Ndarugu. Evenings were not exhaustively utilised for
studies. These activities wore down students at the expense of learning
especially on Mondays.
There was great stress on religious observance at Mang’u.
Retreats were frequent. All mass feasts were observed liturgically according to
the Church calendar, complete with appropriate hymns, church music and recitals
sang by the boys. Protestants who wished to join the church choir were free to
do so. An example is that of Karuga Koinange who knows all the hymns and
chants. Many records at that time were of religious character and few details
on academic activities. The stress on religion resulted in some pupils deciding
to go to the seminary after sitting Cambridge exams. Maurice Michael Otunga, after sitting
Cambridge exams in 1943, joined the seminary to train as a priest. John
Njenga did the same at a later date.
Protestants were required to go to church but were not
coerced into converting to Catholicism, though some did it voluntarily. Many
developed a high opinion of the religious fervour of the Catholics at Mangu.
These include: Karuga Koinange, James Maura, Samuel Waruhiu. According to John
Joseph O’Meara: Mangu’s objective was to “ produce solid Catholics, men
of good character who would be good and responsible citizens of the
contemporary world; men of high principles who saw the need to practice self
denial to urges even in small things, and who would be able to stand up for
what they believed to be right”. These had been the aims of Michael J.
Witte at Kabaa, and are still the aims of every Catholic School worth the name.
Due to the war and financial constraints the government
could not give building grant to the school. During 3rd term, Mkok, the only
African teacher became disgruntled. He was not housed in school because there
were no houses. He was earning an official salary of shs.70 per
month; he demanded shs120 p.m. because he was teaching 7 lessons a day and was
staying outside the school. He could not be reconciled and was dismissed on 17
October 1940. Farrelly and Cyrillus Ojoo (an old boy of Kabaa) came in from
Kabaa to help out due to shortage of staff. Ojoo stayed on the following year
as replacement for Mkok.
1940 At the end of the year, two classes sat public
examinations: The Junior Secondary class (Form 2), The Cambridge class (Form 4)
with two candidates. This examination was spread out over many days partly
because the candidates needed to copy out their answers to provide a spare copy
so that in case the original copies were sunk on the ship on their way to
England (it was war time) the extra copy would be used instead. Both pupils
passed making the first Cambridge results of Kabaa-Mangu High School 100% success.
Stephen Kioni proceeded to Makerere College. Philip Gitau could not make it; he
died not long after. The Junior Secondary class, 10 out of 20 who sat passed
(50%). 5 qualified to proceed to senior secondary (Form 3) but only one was
anxious to join Form 3.
1941 The school opened on 17 January with 31 boys. By
February the number had increased to 40. During the year, The Franciscan Nuns
arrived from Uganda to open a convent, a dispensary and a primary school for
girls opposite Mangu boys school. At year end, only 1 out of 5 passed Cambridge
and 12 out of 17 passed Junior Secondary exam. The Kabaa-Mangu Old Boys
Association was inaugurated on 12 October 1941.
1942 The school opened on 17 January with 30 boys. At the
end of the year, 2 out of 4 passed Cambridge, 6 out of 12 passed Junior
Secondary exams and only 1 of the Cambridge class passed the Makerere entrance
exam. Mangu had qualified staff but the school did not place examinations
foremost in its practices (not a bad educational approach). 9 June 1942 Peter
J. Kelly, the Principal transferred to Bura. In his place, John Joseph O’Meara
was appointed the new Principal. The mission was merged with the school and
Murren was appointed local superior of the whole place and also the bursar.
1943 This was a difficult year because of the war and
famine. It was difficult to satisfy the boys food needs and grambling was
common. At one stage all Form 2 were sent home except 2 of them. At beginning
of 2nd term 7 were re-admitted. The situation improved in 3rd term when the
Maize Control Board placed the school on its ration programme of one pound of
maize per pupil per day. Football became a very important part of Mang’u High
School. In co-curricular activities, Titus Wambogo took 2nd place in
Inter-Territorial Essay Competition in April and Maurice Michael Otunga took 1st
prize in Swahili Essay Competition. Shortly after sitting Cambridge
Examinations he walked out of Mang’u straight into the Major Seminary at
Kakamega without waiting for his results. This frustrated his father’s ambition
of making him his successor as Chief of South Bukusu. He was later in life to
become a Religious Chief of the whole Catholic Church in Kenya.
1942–1946 This period paused many challenges for the school.
There were many and frequent staff changes, making stability of staff a big
challenge. The 1943–45 staff remained 3 priests and Cyrillus Ojoo. These were:
J.J. O’Meara (Principal), F. O’Sullivan, James B. Lynch, Cyrillus Ojoo
In 1945 O’Meara relinquished the Catholic Education
Secretarial duties.
1946 Meade replaced Lynch. M.F. Soughley replaced
O’Sullivan. Herman Muraya (old student) joined the school after completing his
studies at Makerere, to become the second African teacher.
J.J. O’Meara’s last years
O’Meara was a great disciplinarian and ruled Mangu with “an
iron hand”. He was a holder of a B.A. degree and Diploma in Education from
London. He knew his job thoroughly but his hard discipline made him to be
dreaded by the student body. He used the rod frequently and effectively. He was
always everywhere over the compound. He was so discerning that the erring
pupils got the exaggerated impression that he could see through walls and thick
fences. Many students appreciated his discipline because they felt that he
instilled in them certain principles which came in useful in adult life.
O’Meara Built 2 more dormitories, extended the Fathers’ house (the double
storey building that was completed in 1946), He brought the science laboratory
up-to-date such that with a few additions after his departure, Mang’u was to
pride itself on having the best laboratory in all of Africa, He also carried
out improvements on the lawns and pitches, there was improvement in games and
Mang’u started to beat Alliance High School (Kenya).
1947 The total pupil population was 93. He proceeded to
Europe on leave at the beginning of February, 1948. James Meade was appointed
Principal in February, 1948. A record admission of 97 pupils during this year
was registered. The new dormitory started by O’Meara was completed quickly to
accommodate the increased number. However the many problems were too much for
Meade. He threw in the towel and was replaced by Lynch. James B. Lynch arrived
from Pungu in Tanzania to take over as Principal on 9 April 1948. Meade left 6
weeks later for Kiambu. The Cambridge results that year were: 11 very good
passes out of 13. Six joined Makerere College.
1949 106 boys were enrolled. The first Board of Governors
was inaugurated on 30 May 1949. There were some staff changes. Exam results: 28
out of 31 passed Junior Secondary exams. 16 of them qualified for senior
secondary. 15 out of 16 passed Cambridge School Certificate with very good grades.
A good number went to Makerere. At the end of the year, Lynch transferred to
Pungu in Tanzania along with Nugent.
1950–1960 was the decade of Emergency in Kenya. A new
Principal, B. McCourt took over beginning of 1950. The school for the first
time opened with its full quarter of pupils in nearly every class. The Silver
Jubilee of the founding of Kabaa School was held at Kabaa on 23 and 24
September 1950. A new band instruments were acquired to start Mangu’s own flute
and drum band. A decision was made to start rearing pigs and few cattle. In
December, Ojoo transferred to Nyanza. Ambrose Lukalo (an old boy) from
Makerere, joined the staff. RESULTS:
- 31
out of 33 passed Junior Secondary exams; 11 qualified for senior school.
- Cambridge:
23 secured 22 passes, 16 being 1st grade. A total of 12 boys went to Makerere College. These included
Emilio Mwai Kibaki.
1951 McCourt transferred to Nairobi to become Education
Secretary.
1952 Frank M. Soughley took over as acting Principal. This
year is referred to as the building year. The government gave the school the
biggest grant ever; £31,000. As a result:2 new classrooms, new kitchen and
stores, 2 new dormitories, extension to Fathers’ house, new dining hall, new
library, new Laboratory, 4 teachers houses, borehole and better lighting
system. The actual construction of buildings were done by Josphat and Simon. A
double stream was started in Form 1. There were some staff changes in the year.
Lukalo left for UK later in the year to study chemistry; he was replaced by
Simon Katua (old boy) from Makerere. Soughley became full Principal on 16
August 1952.
1953 Joseph Karanja (old boy) joined the staff after his
teacher’s course at Kagumo College. A new tennis court was constructed.
1954 Due to ill health, Soughley, the Principal was
replaced. J.C. O’Connor took over as Principal. He had an M.Sc. and Higher Diploma
in Education. He introduced Witte’s style of keeping the boys on their toes and
maintained Soughley’s strict discipline. (Hilary Ngweno joined the school
during this year). The African staff had increased to four: Simon Katua, J.
Karanja, Albert Maleche (his brother, Simon was later to become the school
bursar for many years), and Paul Erulu. Under the pupilage of O’Shea, the
football team became a formidable force beating teams like Thika Police, The
Royal Insiskilling Fusiliers, Alliance High School (Kenya) (twice)
and many others. The Fathers’ house was extended. The year also witnessed the
arrival of a huge bell weighing over one ton, ordered from Burns Oates and
Washbourne – at a cost of £300.
1955 James Griffin took over as Principal. The staff had
grown large; 12 teachers. The African staff were five: David Irungu, Joseph
Karanja, Paul Erulu, Daniel Owino and Will John Obuyu Namwamba. The frequent
changes of staff caused problems. The first signs of trouble arose within the
African staff in mid 1955. Most of them were dissatisfied because they felt
they were being treated like “senior students of High school”. Erulu, Owino and
Namwamba wrote letters of resignation from Mangu and requested the Director of
Education to transfer them to schools in their home area, the greater Nyanza
Province. They sited dissatisfaction as they had been posted to Mangu against
their wishes and did not wish to stay beyond 1955. They complained of the
“dictatorial” rule of Griffin at Mangu. Griffin was an elderly and seasoned
teacher and had considered them a bad lot. He had told one or two of them that
he sometimes wondered why some of the African teachers had been appointed at
Mangu in the first place. The teachers considered the attitude provoking.
Daniel Owino managed to transfer to Kisii at the end of 1955 because the
Principal there needed a science teacher. 8 December 1955, Paul Cunningham was
appointed Principal and superior of Mangu replacing Griffin who remained on the
staff. The new Principal had on his staff, two former Principals in Griffin and
O’Connor who had been posted back.
1956 Cunningham did not stay long. He was transferred at the
beginning of May 1956 to become Principal of St. Mary’s School Nairobi. His
place was taken by James Barrett shortly after his return from Europe. He was a
tough disciplinarian and an awesome individual. He embarked on an intensive
programme to put the school back to an acceptable standard. In October of that
year Mang’u experienced the biggest strike in the history of Kabaa-Mangu. It
was possibly caused by students’ complaints about “harsh discipline” and
general dissatisfaction by the African teachers. A liberal teacher, Claudius
Mwashumbe, was the first African graduate who had joined the school at the
beginning of the year. He was suspected to have incited the boys as he was
popular with the boys. They went on strike on 21 October. The school resumed
normal classes on 29 October. Mwashumbe was given 1½ months salary in lieu of
notice and asked to quit. Namwamba opted to resign so did Erulu. They
eventually were transferred, with Mr Namwamba going to a new school, Chewoyet,
in Kapenguria. The strike had an impact on Barrett and his staff. He however
pressed on.
1958 was a quiet year, with the usual staff changes. On 14
November, the school was visited for the first and last time by the Governor,
Sir Evelyn Baring.
He stayed for one hour. Work started on a new European-type house for one of
the European lay staff, at a cost of £2,500 that had been received in the 1958
government grant. A new Volkswagen bus was bought, a telephone was installed in
the Principal’s office and 90 double-decker beds were purchased in preparation
for the anticipated 1959 increased intake. The Cambridge class of 1958 (the
Form 2 class that gave Barrett much trouble during the 1956 strike) surprised
the Principal with a party in his honour and gave him several expensive gifts.
1959 Two African teachers joined the staff. They were Duncan
Mwangi (after completing a B.A. course at Makerere College) and Henry Agoya. The
school presented, for the first time, candidates in Agricultural Science for
the Cambridge School Certificate Examinations. Barrett and other Holy Ghost
Fathers got sad news that Mang’u was not going to start Higher School
Certificate (A-level) work in 1959 as had been anticipated. It had been decided
that the Opus
Dei would instead start this programme at present day site
of Strathmore School. However, Cummins, an
Opus Dei priest visited Mang’u and stated that they were not ready to start
A-level class. The other sad news was that the bishop had decided to hand over
the school to a teaching order of Catholic Brothers within a couple of years.
Eventually Strathmore College, came into being
and Mang’u lost its opportunity of embarking on Higher School Certificate. It
was a great disappointment to the priests at Mang’u, since it meant that Mang’u
would be considered junior to its old and friendly rival, Alliance High School (Kenya).
1960 J. Karanja left for a year’s study at Hull University
in Britain. There were the usual staff changes involving priests. Barrett moved
the Intermediate school to a new plot outside the school to provide more room
for the congested High School. A new Lister engine for generating electricity
was installed at a cost of £1,200 provided by the government. The Mission was
also separated from the High School. Apparently, Archbishop McArthy had been
negotiating behind the scenes, with the Principal Superior of the Marianists of
Dayton, Ohio, James M. Darby to get the Marianists of that Province to take the
offer which had earlier been made to the Marianists of England. The Archbishop
had not given up because he wanted the priests that were tied up in education
institutions to be released for the badly needed area of opening more missions.
1961 After 21 years of managing Mang’u, the Holy Ghost Fathers handed the school
over to the Society of Mary (Marianists) or
Marianist Brothers of United States of America. It was an agonising decision by
the Archdiocese of Nairobi and
Archbishop McArthy. Mang’u was their oldest and best school; it was a
show-place and treasure of the Holy Ghost world in the Diocese of Zanzibar. The
first 2 Brothers arrived by air on 10 January 1961. They were Frank Russell and
Francis Muller. Charles Barnett arrived four days later from Nigeria. Within 2
days of his arrival he was in the classroom teaching Biology. It was agreed that
Barrett continues to act as Principal while the Brothers familiarised
themselves with their new job. Frank Russell took over as Principal shortly
afterwards. He had previous experience in the USA as a sports master and
basketball coach in several schools. The school was also known as Dayton
because of the school’s association with University of Dayton, a Catholic
university founded by the Society of Mary (Marianists) in
1850 in Dayton, Ohio, United States. He quickly built a
new basketball court at Mangu, He built a new library and recreational hall, He
installed fluorescent lights in all the classrooms, He decorated the dining
hall, He got most of the funding from the Marianists though the school
continued getting government funding. Fr.Killian O’Nuallain, remained at the
school throughout 1961 to serve as Chaplain till the arrival of Eldon Reichert,
a Marianist priest from Asaba, Nigeria. There were 5 Africans on the staff:
Duncan Mwangi, Francis Oluta, Henry Agoya, David Irungu, Nocholas Muraguri. The
school lost all of them shortly before independence in 1963 as they left one by
one to join various government establishments e.g. Ministry of Education head
office, Government Chemist, Provincial Education Office and other administrative
posts. Suitable replacements were later found.
The Marianists came with plenty of ideas but realised that
the Holy Ghost Fathers had laid a strong foundation based on the British system
of education. This was somehow different from the American one. They decided to
build on the foundation they found. They stressed on practical teaching of
science (following in the footsteps of J.C. O’Connor,) that had quickly
established a scientific tradition at the school. They established separate
laboratory instruction in Chemistry, Physics and Biology with the aim of
meeting the current demand for qualified African technicians and
agriculturalists in Kenya. The Marianists realised that the Holy Ghost Fathers
turned over to them their best school, so they were determined to live up to
the trust placed upon them. More Marianists arrived. These were: Pat Muller,
Michael Stimac, John O’Connor. Realising that the education system was
‘examination-geared’, the Marianists embarked on preparing the students for
Cambridge syllabus. New and fancy programmes would only be introduced if they
acted as a stimulus for the Cambridge subjects. The switching of attention
towards academics made Mang’u results in examinations to compare favourably
with the best standards in the country. This slowed down the electronics and
aeronautics programmes.
After settling in Mang’u, the Marianists were later
requested to staff a new school that had been started by J.C. O’Connor, near
Madaraka, called Aquinas High School (Kenya). Reichert, John O’Connor and
Michael Stimac were transferred from Mangu for the purpose. In their place,
Robert Ouellette, a French-Canadian (arrived from Abidjan in Cotê d’Ivoire),
John Schneider, Charles Barnett, (who had gone back after arriving with Frank
in 1961). Ouellette established the Department of French at Mang’u, making the
school one of the first to take up the study of French in East Africa. Barnett
maintained a high level of teaching science in the school because of his vast
experience in USA and West Africa. John Schneider was very experienced in
teaching English and in Journalism. He introduced Speed Reading; brought
products of Science Research Association Lab designed to improve the level of
speed, comprehension, interest and ability of each individual student. Within 2
years, the results in English brought 20 distinctions.
1964 Frank Russell was transferred to Malawi. James Kilroy
arrived to replace him as Principal of Mang’u. He was accompanied by Paul
Koller and James Vorndran (both science teachers). Paul Koller took over the
air programme and the Radio club from Michael Stimac. Koller also coached
basketball. James Vorndran took over the Biology department from Barnett who
had been posted to Malawi. The government continued to give grant to the school.
In addition, the government offered £7,000 to cover the necessary additions and
repairs to buildings and to bring the equipment up to date. The school had to
decline this latter offer because of the plans of moving it to another site.
After the Government’s decision to allow 35 instead of 30
pupils per class, Mangu’s double stream classes faced a possible maximum of 280
pupils, too many for the present site and available accommodation. Then there
was the need to start Higher School Certificate classes. Accordingly, the
Marianists started a drive to raise funds from local and international sources
to make it possible to move the school to a completely new site bought from Bos
Harries, thirteen miles away from Mang’u. This would lead to the school
transfer of the High School. Unlike the first transfer from Kabaa, careful
planning and unhurried selection of a site, coupled with the availability of
more funds would ensure that Mangu High School at last gets a suitable,
spacious and permanent home.
“1966” Mang’u High School got a new arrival, Kenneth
Thompson, who was to become a continuous feature for the next 15 years. Kenneth
from Ohio who took over English Department, and coached athletics.
1967 John Schneider took over as Principal and continued
with the plans of moving the school to a new site. Among the teachers at Mang’u
during that era were Mr Mascarenhas (Mathematics) and later on “Monsieur” Guy
Pied, who took over French from Bob Ouellete.
1970 the first African Principal, Raphael J. Njoroge (an old
boy of Mang’u) took over. He put the movement of the school in top gear. Due to
the Marianist Brothers introducing the Aviation programme in Mang’u there was
an urgent need for expansion. To create room for the aviation programme, the
Board of Governors purchased a new site for the school, acquiring land 214
acres (0.87 km2) six kilometres from Thika Town
along the Thika-Nairobi Highway.
1972 the Marianist Brothers moved Mang’u High School to its
current site. At the time of moving the Principal was Prof. Raphael J. Njoroge,
the first African principal of the school. The school was to be put up in three
phases. At the new site, the “A-Level” program begun. The A-Level program
offered the subjects of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology. Later or
Economics and Geography were offered.
Among the new A-level students admitted at this time was
Captain Elkanah Aluvale, who was later to become a pioneer aviation
entrepreneur founding the Jet-Link Company. Among the active aviation student
was Jos Konzolo who later became a household name, and Major Hilary Kilingi
Kioko who joined the Kenyan Air Force. Mang’u High School alumni from the
“Marianist Decade” were now making impressive careers in the aviation world,
including on Major Mwangi who later on became the founding squadron leader of
Kenya Air Force’s first helicopter squad.
“”1973″” Mang’u first Kenyan Principal Mr Njoroge moved on
the Nairobi University to pursue a career as a lecturer and work on his PhD.
The school was temporarily in the hands of the Marianist Brothers once again.
Acting as Principal was Paul Koller, who ran the school upto mid-1974 while the
search moved into top gear in search of a new Principal. The search was not
long and in Mid 1974, Mr Charles Ng’ang’a Muchai became the new Principal.
Prominent teachers in the Late 1960’s to early 1970s were
Robert Geary (Chemistry & Radio Club), Mr Wilkoff “Nicknamed Cartoon” and
American Peace Corp teaching Maths.Teaching Junior Maths was Mrs Pied, whose
husband Mr Pied, taught French. That early 1970’s also saw the demise of the
beloved Fr Edward, whose legacy was permanently preserved in the new Fr Ed’s
house at the new Mang’u site. The other two houses were named after Jomo
Kenyatta, and Michael Schneider. In late 1974, Mr Muchai split the house into
two each. Schneider house now became Schneider and Ronald Ngala House, Kenyatta
House became Kenyatta and Tom Mboya House. Edward’s House became Kimathi and
Edward’s (or called by students plainly as Ed.)
African teachers on staff were Mr Mungai (Swahili) who later
exchanged posts with Mr Mucheru from Thika Technical School. Mr Mucheru was a
prominent soccer coach and had led Thika Technical to National Championship,
and it was not long before Mang’u High School became competitive in soccer.
Also becoming a “permanent feature” was Mr Paul Kibuuka, who became the head of
Geography Department and would stay on until his retirement in the 1990s.
Admission
New Students
The school is very competitive to join, with only the top
performing students in the Kenya Certificate of Primary
Education being offered admission. Once offered admission,
students must submit a letter of introduction from either the chief of their
area, the pastor or father in charge of their parish/mission and a letter from
their primary school headmaster. This is to ensure only disciplined students
are admitted to maintain the standards of the school.
There has been controversy in the past where powerful
politicians secure a place for their children though they did not perform well.
In 2001, the students went on strike to protest the forced transfer of the Principal
Paul Agali Otula after he refused to admit the son of a powerful government
official.[citation
needed] The school admits students from both public
and private schools in a quota system to ensure that top students from every
county are admitted. The school applies an affirmative action policy to ensure
marginalised students from hardship semi-arid areas are given a chance.
Departments
The Heads of Departments (H.O.D) are appointed by the
Teachers Service Commission. The School has a:
- Science
Department,
- Humanities
Department,
- Geography
Department,
- Department
of Technical Subjects,
- Mathematics
Department,
- Business
Education Department,
- Languages
Department
- Clubs
Department and a
- Boarding,
Guidance and Counselling Department.
The Humanities department teaches subjects such as History,
Christian Religious Education (C.R.E), Social Education and Ethics (S.E.E) and
Islamic Religious Education (I.R.E). The Humanities Department was headed by
Mrs Chege Bernice and is a well established department with nine teachers and
works to encourage students in these subjects that foster nationalism and
promote morals. The Science Department teaches subjects such as Physics,
Chemistry, Biology and was headed by Mrs Anastasia Maina and has been one of
the best performing in its subjects . The Department of Technical Subjects was
headed by Mr Peter Mungai and teaches Aviation Technology, Agriculture, Power
mechanics, Electricity and Computer Studies and prepares students for
industrialisation toward Kenya
Vision 2030 goals. The Geography Department was headed by Mrs
Beatrice Mungai and enlightens students on current issues economic, social,
physical etc. both nationally and internationally as it is interacts with all
disciplines in one way or another. The Languages Department teaches English,
Swahili, German and French. The Boarding, Guidance and Counselling Department
was headed by Paul Kibuuka and is tasked with ensuring the students welfare and
organising for guest speakers to students and researching on career
opportunities in various fields available to students both after school and in
the future. Paul Kibuuka was one of the longest serving teachers. He taught
Geography from 1972 to 2002. The Dean of Studies keeps the academic records of
students. The Counselling services are taken care of by a large team of
teachers under co-ordination of the H.O.D. In addition the Chaplain plays a
vital role in this department.
Academics
In 1951 Mang’u High School made history in East African
education by presenting its candidates for the full science subjects: Physics,
Chemistry, Biology – the first time an African school in East Africa had
presented the full science course. It was the result effort of J.C. O’Connor, a
well qualified and competent teacher of science. At the end of the year, the
results were 100% pass for both Junior Secondary and Cambridge School
Certificate.
Mang’u High School has a very rigorous and challenging
academic program and the students are in class from 6am to 4pm with a short
break and back to class at 6.30pm till 10.30pm. The syllabus for each year are
usually completed early to give students time to prepare for exams. The science
teachers perform some of the experiments at night, lunch-break, games time or
during the weekend so as to cover the syllabus. The school has a tradition of
challenging and motivating its students to work very hard. During the holidays,
form four students report back to school for an intense session known as
“Summer Camp”.
Mang’u High School has consistently maintained itself as
leading institution of competitive and challenging academics. It does well in
the Kenya Certificate of
Secondary Education and is consistently ranked among the top
schools nationwide. In 2006 Mang’u High School was seventh nationwide in
the Kenya Certificate of
Secondary Education but in 2007,it regained its top position it
last held in 1989 by once again leading the whole country in the national exam.
In 2008 the school was fourth in the country. The school has produced the top
performing student nationally in the Kenya Certificate of
Secondary Education many times.
The school also hosts the Moi National Mathematics Contest
an exam prepared by Mang’u High School teachers that brings together students
from all High schools in Kenya. The contest was started in 1996 with 19 schools
and increased to 74 schools in 1999. The number of participating students also
increased from 278 to 1,200 in the same period. The National Maths Contest has
gained fame as a very tough, competitive and challenging mathematics exam that
prepares students for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary
Education. The school also hosts a Science Congress and Aviation
Symposium annually.
Alliance High School (Kenya) has
been Mang’u High School’s longtime academic rival with both institutions of
learning producing the social elite of Kenya. Most of Mang’u High School’s
students are admitted into high profile courses like Dental Surgery Pharmacy,
Medicine, Architecture, Law and Engineering. Many students are admitted to
prestigious foreign universities in the United States, Europe and Australia
such as Yale, Harvard, Stanford and Oxford.
Aviation
Mang’u High’s Beechcraft Queen Air 5Y-MHS
The school has always welcomed changes and embraced new
technology. It was the first school in Kenya to introduce Aviation Technology
as an examinable subject. In 1961 Michael Stimac introduced new science
activities at the school. He started the Amateur Radio Club and Electronics. He
also started the Air Programme to interest the boys in things connected with
aviation. He aimed at building interest in things connected with aviation such as
weather, mechanics, radio, the physics of aviation, designing, plotting air
speed and ground speed and allied operations. This became a success. Many
Mang’u students joined the Air Force and the East African Airways. The first
training programme was inaugurated by Minister for Education, Hon. Otiende on
25 July 1963. This was on the school’s airstrip which was constructed by the
boys on the land of Peter Harries who also lent all the machinery. The minister
landed on the airstrip in a Cessna aircraft. 6 boys were taken for the first
two training flights by Captain Z. Boskovic. Other training flights were to be
given by Michael, the school’s science teacher who was also a qualified pilot.
This first flight was watched by an old boy, Hillary Ngweno who was then
working with Esso
Company. The company was giving 500 gallons of petrol towards the
programme. John Gordon, the Vice-President of Blackwell Campling offered the
company’s Cessna Aircraft to be used for
training 60 boys up to a reasonable level of flight and mechanical training.
The Company also gave 150 hours free flying time to the school.
In 1983 President Daniel
arap Moi was having a function at Central Province and stopped by
the school’s gate to greet students and inquired about the Aviation program
which used to be offered at Mang’u. He was told they did not have a teacher and
instructed the Ministry of Education to post a teacher to the school so that
next time he passes by he should find the course being offered. In 1984, The
Teachers Service Commission posted Mr.Francis Obilo to teach Aviation
Technology. He taught and left for Kenya
Airways. In 1987, Aloys Owiti was posted to take over. The K.I.E
instituted a panel to write the syllabus based on the 7–4–2–3 but the first
group had not done practicals hence were given certificates of participation.
The first form one intake of 1987 started the subject with a draft modified by
the Directorate of Civil Aviation, Kenya Polytechnic, Kenya Technical College,
Mang’u, K.I.E and Kenya Air Force Technical College (K.A.F.T.E.C). Fifteen
students did their exams in 1990. The course has been very popular. In 1995,
Mugo Gicobi was posted from the Kenya
Air Force to reduce the workload which was over 40 periods per
week. Julius Asiro also joined the following year but left for Makini School.
Simeon Situma an alumnus and former Aviation student was also posted to the
school. The program is open to anyone during the first two years but only the
top 20 performing students are selected to proceed in the final two years of
High School.
The Aviation Technology program is the school’s pride and is
heavily focused on technical skills such as propulsion, thermodynamics,
meteorology. The Aviation students undertake most of their studies at Wilson Airport and Moi Air Force
Base in Embakasi. The aviation workshop is undergoing upgrades. The
original Schweizer Aircraft glider N3909A
used by the Marianist Brothers for Aviation training crashed and became
unairworthy hence is in the workshop as a memorial and is used for educational
purposes only. The school acquired a Beechcraft Queen Air 5Y-MHS twin
engined light aircraft. The Kenya
Air Force assists with repairs of the aircraft and training. The
school received a lot of materials, tools and teaching aids from various
Airlines such as Kenya Airways, Airkenya
Express, CMC Aviation, Aviation Luxeken and British
Airways. Kenya School of Flying used
to give scholarships during the last two years of High School to the students.
The visits to Wilson Airport continue, to keep the student abreast of new
technologies and many students obtain internships and permanent employment with
regional airlines and the national carrier Kenya
Airways. Some have proceeded to join the Kenya
Air Force while others have studied Aeronautical Engineering at
American, British and Russian universities.
The school needs a properly equipped hangar to house its
aircraft and perform practicals and ground and flight training so that students
don’t have to miss classes to visit the respective places for their education.
The school is appealing to its well wishers to continue supporting the future
of Kenyan Aviation.
Facilities
The nomadic history of the school has greatly disadvantaged
it, as a lot of physical facilities were left behind as it tried to find a
suitable resting place. The first phase of construction was completed in 1972
and the 253 students moved in. By 1992, very little had been done to complete
the second phase and nothing for the third phase, yet the student population
was already in the third phase. The student population increased to 800. A new
dormitory consisting of two houses, Raymond and Ndingi Mwana Nzeki, was built
in 1996 using funds raised by alumnus Vice-President George
Saitoti. This helped solve the problem of congestion. There are now ten
houses in use. The older dormitories were put up in 1972 and
require renovations.The ten Houses are:
- Ronald
Ngala
- Schneider
- Kimathi
- Kenyatta
- Tom
Mboya
- Edwards
- Old Boys
- Cardinal
Otunga
- Ndingi
Mwana Nzeki
- Raymond
- Michuki
The school admits bright students from financially
challenging backgrounds and this has led to a shortfall of available funds for
development. However, the school has obtained additional funding from the
government and is constructing new modern facilities to supplement the existing
laboratory and provide offices for the Head of Departments. The current
facility has three laboratories for Physics, Chemistry and Biology and an
Aviation Workshop. A modern school chapel was also completed in 2002. The
school management has also bought two new buses. The school has Power Mechanics
and Electricity workshops and farming areas and dairy facilities for
Agriculture students.
Mang’u High School has undergone experienced many positive
physical developments in the years 2011–2013. For many years the school needed
a Social/Lecture Hall as most events were held in the Dining Hall, Library and
Chapel. In 2013 the school now boasts of an ultra-modern multi purpose hall which
is easily the best in the country. The facility has many utility rooms that
will provide the school with many facilities that the school urgently needed.
The school also has a brand new administration block which is an architectural
master piece, this building coupled with it already existing functional staff
room brings Mang’u High School on par with its academic rivals. The school also
has a new science laboratory complex, giving it adequate science facilities
commensurate with its status as Kenya’s leading school in science subjects. The
swimming pool also got a major boost of servicing rooms, while transportation
was blessed with a new modern garage for the school vehicles.
In June 2011, the school was hit by a bad storm that damaged
the kitchen and dining hall, knocking out the power supply for some time.
The school now has a fully functional computer lab with
upgraded computers and high speed internet. Kenya
Airways offered to pay the full amount for 40 computers to set up
two labs: one for all students and one specifically for the Aviation Technology
program.
On 16 May 2011, The French ambassador to Kenya, Etienne de
Poncins and the Ministry of Education, launched a French Language Resource
Centre at Mang’u High School. Students from
neighbouring Compuera Mangu Girls School, Mary Hill Girls School, Thika High
School and Thika School for the Blind will also benefit from the resource
center.
The School is also leading in the effort to go green by
using Biogas
energy. Effluent from the institutions are collected in three different
digester tanks and then piped over 3 km to the gas chamber where the gas
is collected. It is then used to power a generator that is used in the school.
With these facilities in place, Mang’u High School can boast
of having reached its full potential in physical facilities in the year 2013
(Under the keen eye of Mwalimu Raichena, the current principal). For the first
time in history Mang’u is matching the facilities of its historical rival the
Alliance High School. Over the years Mang’u High School “defied logic” by
performing excellently academically in the face of adversity (inadequate
facilities). It will be interesting to see how it performs now that it
facilities are among the very best national schools in Kenya. Mang’u retians
it’s strong traditions and history and will no doubt hold its position at the
top.
School Anthem (In Swahili)
The melody is borrowed from the Tanzanian and South African
National Anthems.
Mungu ibariki Mang’u High,
Ibariki viongozi wake,
Katika michezo masomo,
Mang’u High tuwe washindi,
Mang’u High na watu wake,
Ibariki, Mang’u High! (X2)
Ibariki, Mang’u High na watu wake,
Mang’u High tuwe washindi!
Sports
Rift Valley Academy take on Mang’u
High School in a Prescott Cup game
Basketball in Kenya was started in Mang’u by the Marianist Brothers when
Frank Russell took over as Principal. He had previous experience in the USA as
a sports master and basketball coach in several schools. Mang’u High School has
not only been an academic powerhouse but also been leading in extra-curricular
activities such as drama, music and mainly sports. It strives to produce well
rounded gentlemen. The Sports include Basketball, Football, Rugby, Swimming,
Tennis, Decathlon, Volleyball and others. The school has two rugby pitches, two
basketball courts, a football pitch, a hockey pitch, an athletics track and a
swimming pool. Other facilities are table tennis and a handball field. The
Basketball team is known as the ‘Panthers’ and have been the National Champions
for many years.
Mang’u also has a strong football team known as Pirates. The
team has produced good players over the years like Stevo Oush of the class of
2003. But for a broken metatarsal, Oush was set to join Bursaspor in
the Turkish League. After a long period of underachieving, the team finally
came of age in 2003.
The school is also known for its strong rugby team known as
‘Wazimba’. Rugby was introduced into the school in early 1987. There was no
rugby pitch at the time but the school administration allocated some land which
was converted to two standard size rugby pitches which are used by the players
today. The game was quite new to most of the students and the game took some
time to be learnt, accepted and enjoyed by the students. The passion for the
game flared up in the 1990s when more students took interest and the school
started competing against other schools. Wazimba over the years has become a
remarkable household name in Kenyan rugby being famous for its perfect line
outs. It participates in the various tournaments e.g. Camp David(mangu), Mangu
Open(Mangu), Changez Open(Lenana school), Damu Pevu Tournament, Bush
Open(alliance school), Impala Floodlights, Uttermost(Nairobi school), 7’s Aside
School League, 15’s Aside Secondary League and Prescott Tournament. In 2010,
Wazimba scooped the Kenya Rugby Union and Ministry of Rugby’s Elliptics School
of the Year Awards after scooping the East African Schools, Impala Floodlit,
Prescott Cup and national schools titles. On 29 October 2011 the rugby team
retained the Zuku Impala Floodlit title. Wazimba have also played in many East
African Regional tournaments. Many former rugby team alumni have played for
the Kenya national rugby union team.
The team has also produced outstanding players with international recognition
like the late Joshua Gathumbi, Vincent Ongera, Daniel Kiptoo Bargoria, Dennis
Karanja, Matthew Msalia, Polycap Odhiambo and Ted Munene. The team natures
young talent to excellent players. The team is at the moment being coached by
two very experienced coaches: Steve Maongo and John Boscow – mwamba (a world
class referee with 10 international appearances and an IRB certified educator).
In August 2010, Mang’u High School hockey team won the
Brookside East Africa Secondary School hockey title when they defeated St
Mary’s College Kisubi of Uganda 4–0.
Clubs and Societies
The Clubs Department is headed by Ms. Maina. The clubs help
the students in various disciplines. Some are academic while others are social.
The clubs invite and visit other schools for various functions pertaining to
their societies. The students are prepared to be useful people in the society
in the future as they organise all the activities in the clubs and societies.
The school administration has given the clubs full support in their endeavours.
For every club, there is a Patron who acts as a consultant, currently a
teacher. The school has many clubs including Debate, Law, Drama, Music,
History, Charity, Scouts, Red Cross, Chess, Young Farmers, Football, Rugby,
Christian Union, Seventh Day Adventist, Engineering, Gym, Wildlife, Science,
Aviation, Journalism, French, German and Computer clubs. Students appoint their
own officials and raise their own funds which are held in the Bursar office.
The Journalism Club produces the popular Savannah Magazine. The
Aviation Club is very popular and hosts the annual Aviation Symposium. Kenya
Airways invited the Aviation Club members for a demo flight during
the delivery of its first Boeing 767. The Biotechnology Club’s aims is to
assist students to explore their knowledge on matters of concern in the field
of Biotechnology and to engage students in the learning of new ways of using
scientific tools modify organisms to achieve traits useful to humankind. The
school also has a German exchange program. The school needs alumni who are
professionals in various fields to volunteer as Patrons to mentor the various
clubs.
Junior achievement club is basically an opportunity for
young entrepreneurs to gain vital business knowledge. Each year a company is
formed by members in form one to three to undertake the year’s programme. The
members choose a business idea and after assessing its viability develop it
into a project that can help them gain practical skills in business. At the end
of the year students take part in a national competitive expo where all
companies show case their products. A team of highly experienced judges drawn
from the corporate sector then choose the best placed companies a host of
awards. The best company takes the Biashara award. The form four’s(former
company members) are taken through a job shadowing program where they get to
meet with members of the corporate world to learn more about the job they
usually do.
Alumni
Mang’u High School has helped shape the history and future
of Kenya.
Alumni share a strong bond and are known to give each other preferential
treatment in job offers and contracts. The school has alumni including
politicians, businessmen, lawyers, engineers, doctors, scientists, clergymen
and pilots. Mang’u High School will probably be the only high school in Kenya’s
history to have its alumni running the country as President and Vice-President
at the same time. From 25 September 2003 to 9 January 2008 Mang’u High School
alumni ruled Kenya as
President and Vice-President including many members of cabinet. Among the high
profile politicians who studied at Mang’u High School are President Mwai
Kibaki who attained the maximum possible score. He is entered in
the 1947 school register as Emilio Mwai s/o Kibaki from Othaya, Nyeri District.
Described as a brilliant student and a keen Catholic, he scored As in
Geography, Kiswahili and Arithmetic, but managed only Cs in Geometry, English,
Latin, Chemistry, Physics and Hygiene. Schoolmates in the lower classes say he
was outspoken and joyous, but did not show much interest in extra-curricular
activities like sport but at Mang’u, he is remembered as a great debater.
Former Vice-President Moody
Awori is entered in the 1944 register as Asanasio Mudeyi s/o the
Rev Jeremiah Awori of North Kavirondo district (now Busia). Although now the
respected old man of Kenya politics, at Mang’u he was given to boyish mischief.
The head teacher described his character in some fairly harsh words and gave
that as the reason why the school refused to take him back for upper secondary
education, in spite of a sterling performance in the lower level. The young
Awori excelled in languages, history, geography and agriculture, but fell flat
in mathematics, algebra and geometry. Cabinet Minister George
Saitoti who was also a Vice-President of Kenya, left Mang’u before
sitting his Cambridge School Certificate examination (O-level) on winning a
scholarship to the United States, where he enrolled at Brandeis University in
Massachusetts in 1962 to study mathematics. The late Cabinet Minister John
Michuki was a school captain and also met President Mwai
Kibaki at Mang’u. Michuki was in the 1952–1954 class and his
records state he was “industrious, energetic and a little too hard on fellow
students”. It is perhaps because of that latter trait that he was appointed
head prefect at Mang’u. He was also good in football and athletics.
Another Alumnus who served as Cabinet Minister in Mwai
Kibaki‘s administration is Agriculture Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa who
was in Mang’u’s O- level class of 1977–80. The school appears to have prepared
him for a career in politics, at least going by the remarks in his
school-leaving certificate. It reads: “He was outspoken and frank. Above
average in intelligence and of exemplary character.” Mr Kirwa was a class
prefect in the lower classes and a dormitory captain when in Forms III and IV.
He also excelled in athletics, particularly the sprints and relays. Another
Alumnus who served as a Cabinet Minister is Cyrus
Jirongo who was in the Mang’u O-level class of 1978 to 1981. His
school records says he was “argumentative, joyous, impatient and always
questioning the order of things.” He was also a star footballer, secretary of
the debating club and member of the school drama troupe. Schoolmates also
remember CJ, as they called him, as always top of the list of suspected ring
leaders any time the students had a showdown with the school authorities.
However, they say he was cunning enough to get away with it and was never
suspended. Another Cabinet Minister is the late Tom Mboya who
was one of Kenya’s principal leaders that agitated for Kenya’s independence.
Other notable alumni include Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga who was
in the first graduating class. Shortly after sitting Cambridge Examinations he
walked out of Mangu straight into the Major Seminary at Kakamega without
waiting for his results. This frustrated his father’s ambition of making him his
successor as Chief of South Bukusu. He was later in life to become a Religious
Chief of the whole Catholic Church in Kenya. His records at Mang’u (1941–43)
indicate he failed in every subject except general science and algebra. He even
scored F for failure in the tools of his lifetime calling: Scripture Studies
and Latin, and also failed in English and Kiswahili. But in spite of that, the
headmaster captured the young Otunga’s other strengths in the following words:
“He is one of the finest characters ever in Mang’u; captain of the First Eleven
and an all-round sportsman.” Other clergymen are Archbishop Ndingi Mwana Nzeki,
Archbishop John Njenga who also met Mwai Kibaki and
Moody Awori at Mang’u and says he taught Moody Awori catechism. He did not do
well in scripture studies. Neither is it indicated that he was active in
religious activities. Many of those who have met him speak of a humble and
compassionate old man, yet while at Mang’u from 1944–47, Mr Njenga’s
headteacher thought he suffered from hubris. He wrote of him: “A seminarist via
Lyoki Primary School. Sturdy but thought a lot of himself. Perhaps not his
fault.” Mr Njenga was however described as a bright student who excelled in
algebra, agriculture, and Latin. Others are Anthony Muheria, a close friend of
Mwai Kibaki and was appointed by him to be a member of the Judicial Service
Commission.
Joseph Barrage Wanjui, Chancellor University of Nairobi, Chairman and
CEO of East African Industries (Unilever). Described as “reliable” in the school
records and also by his head at Mang’u in 1957 as “a student of fair
intelligence but one who had to apply himself to make the grade through sheer
hard work”. The report concluded that he was “a most satisfactory, thoroughly
energetic and reliable prefect”. “He is truthful, pleasant, honest and
hard-working.” Mr Hillary Ng’weno, Media Magnate, is the
founder of STV (Stellavision television). Nuclear scientist educated at
Harvard, first Kenyan Editor-in-Chief of Daily Nation. He joined Mang’u in 1952
and although he excelled in most subjects with straight As, he was poor in
those that were to be at the core of his career, scoring Cs in both English and
Kiswahili. Mr Ng’weno’s registration name was Hilarious Bonifes and he was
described as a Samia from Nairobi. His unusual home address was EARH, Makongeni
Locomotive Shed, P.O. Box 753 Nairobi. Various other alumni have been appointed
to head Parastatals and Commissions by the President. Joseph Konzolo is
a former director of the National Social Security Fund
(Kenya) and was also a former chairman of the Board of Governors
of Mang’u High School. His school records tell of a student who was “very
reliable” and the only student who did not take part in any school strike in
the four years he was at Mang’u. Mr Konzolo was a school prefect and performed
well in electronics and aviation. He was also good in athletics and hockey and
was described as a committed Christian and an official of the school’s
Christian Union. Dr. Joshua Noreh performed Kenya’s first In vitro fertilisation. Raphael J.
Njoroge is an educationist who is an alumnus and was also its first African
principal. Some of the pilots of the now defunct East African Airways and senior
pilots at Kenya Airways came from Mang’u High
School.
See also: Category:Alumni of Mang’u High
School
- Wilfred
Kiboro, CEO Nation Media Group
- Khadambi Asalache, Kenyan poet and
author who settled in London in 1960, later a civil servant at HM
Treasury, taught Swahili at the Berlitz
School, and worked for the BBC African Service.
- Binyavanga Wainaina, author,
journalist and winner of the Caine
Prize, nominated by the World Economic Forum as a “Young Global
Leader” but declined the award.
The Mang’u Old Boys Group is active and has opened an Office
at the school with a main objective to keep track of the Mang’u Old Boys and
reunite them. They are also represented at the Board of Governors and have a
dorm named in their memory. The Alumni Office has a lot to offer the Mang’u Old
Boys. Some of these benefits will include: Social events e.g. sports and other
leisure activities, which in turn create an opportunity to form business networks
and other relations with mutual benefits. This is just in addition to the
primary benefit of reuniting with old friends and sharing fun times together.
The school currently needs a social networking platform where alumni can
exchange job opportunities with each other in the job market. Currently alumni
have a very active yahoo group known as Jishinde Ushinde,
a Facebook group and a LinkedIn group. Several alumni sponsor needy students at
the school and proposed Old Boys Endowment Fund is
in the works.
Faith
The Archbishop of Nairobi took the
initiative to establish a chaplaincy in the school. The activities of the
chaplaincy pivots around the mission to teach, guide and counsel. Every Monday
and Friday the chaplain offers prayers during assembly. Every Sunday there is a
period of worship. The Muslims are provided a room which serves as a “mosque”,
the Protestants worship in the dining hall while the Catholics attend Mass in
the school chapel. The first and last Sundays of the terms are joint worship.
The Archbishop visits to administer sacrament of confirmation and prior to the
start of the Kenya Certificate of
Secondary Education. The Protestants are guided by the Christian Union
Patron assisted by Christian Union Fellowship.
The Chaplain offers catechism instructions to those willing
to be baptised, receive the Holy
Communion or Sacrament of Confirmation.
Guidance is given collectively during school assemblies and individually. The
Chaplain also assists the school administration in inspiring the school
community to uphold or maintain the ideal of a catholic sponsored school where
the formation of character is the foundation of sound discipline, academic
excellence and of an all rounded personality.
Culture and Traditions
In Mang’u there is a famous saying that “there are only two
schools, Mang’u and the rest”. Other popular sayings are “In Mang’u we make
things happen and not just let them happen”, “To some greatness is born, to
others it is thrust upon them but to Mang’u it is achieved.” Another common
slogan is “aluta continua”. Students are taught to not just be book smart but
also sociable, as Idris demonstrates it. The school has a vibrant cheering
squad during sport competitions. Alumni are also very loyal to their alma mater
and frequently attend sporting competitions and candidate dedications.
Students are required to be responsible in various duties
and chores in the Houses and classrooms.At any time when the bell
rings, all students must run to wherever they are going. This culture trains
the students to be responsible with time. Every year the most disciplined and
responsible students interview to become captains in various areas of
responsibility. During Interview Day, no classes are held as all teachers
interview the candidates. The School Captain is the most powerful and gives a
speech every Friday during assembly. The most famous School Captain was the
late Hon. John Michuki who was a Cabinet Minister.
The Principal, Deputy Principal and Discipline Master chose the Pentagon. The
Pentagon is made up of the School Captain, his Deputy, the Dining Hall captain,
his Deputy and the Sports Captain. The pentagon is the highest policy making
organ for the students in running the affairs of the school. The House Captains
are also essential in managing the affairs of the Houses. They assign duties
and give punishments. The Houses compete in every area from cleanliness to
drama and music festivals to sports. The most popular prefect is the
Entertainment prefect who selects movies for Saturday ‘movie nights’. The
Captains have certain privileges to compensate the additional work of assisting
in managing the students. They are expected to lead by example and be
conversant with the school traditions and contribute ideas contained in the Principal’s
speech.
Alliance High School is a
sworn rival of every student from their admission and the goal of every student
is to defeat Alliance in every competition and to bring the trophy back home.
This rivalry spans from the 1930s and it was just as bad as today. This culture
has been passed down over generations. Fights have at times broken out with
Alliance students during sporting competitions. Many of Mang’u cheering songs
directly mock Alliance. The school has a cheer leading group dubbed the
cheering squad. One of the most vocal cheering squad members since 2000 was one
Stevo Oush of the class of 2003 who is presently living a quiet life in Meru,
Kenya.