Precious Blood Kagwe Girls School was founded in February 1966 by the missionary sisters of Precious Blood, who were based in Lari constituency near Kiambu town.
When the school was started, it had 18 students under Sister Silvana, who stayed at the helm to steer it to still waters for five years. In 1970, the provincial inspector of schools Mr Grieves Cook declared it a harambee school before the first cohorts sat for their first East African Certificate Examination in 1971. Out of 21 candidates who sat for the exam, 18 passed.
In 1972, Sr Mlanatis CPS took over as the headmistress and brought in more changes. She introduced a boarding section, with the facility capable of housing 30 students, who came from far.
The Archbishop of Nairobi opened the laboratory and hostels and in 1977, the library was set up. Three years later, President Daniel Arap Moi visited the school to assess its progress during which he donated money that went into constructing more dormitories to accommodate 128 girls.
The dormitories were opened the following year and it gave the school administrators a chance to introduce a structured housing system.
Sr. Maria Pacis Vogel took over in February 1989 and headed the school until 1991.
The school is well known for excelling in science congress, sports and music festivals. In 2000, it won the school of the year award due to its prowess in Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education (KCSE) examination. In 2012, the school registered its third stream and rebranded to Precious Blood Kagwe. It now has five streams with a student population of 883.
Some of its former principals include Esther Mathenge, Rose Kiragu, Joy Gitonga and the late Lucy Mwangi.
Students engaged in "mchongoano" after tea break to burn the "morning express" stress.
The girls used to put up a fight to be allowed to make the short trip to the Lari Boys, their brother school, in their old school bus nicknamed "Cobweb", which was driven by Njoroge.
The worst punishment was to hue firewood for noise makers in class. However, good performers and disciplined students were awarded merits while those who broke school rules were given poor ranking.
Rice and beef stew was the favourite meal served on Saturdays by Muiruri John while memorable teachers included Joy Gitonga, Esther Mathenge and late Lucy Mwangi, who supported co-curriculum activities in the school to the national arena.
Notable alumni who sung the school motto "Let Your Light Shine" clad in green sweaters, skirts and white blouses include Valentine Kibara, an advocate of the High Court, Essie Waweru, a lecturer at University of Nairobi School of Environment, Grace Kariuki, the project manager, Palmolive Kenya, Susan Warie, a director at Aristocrat Realtors, Mary Nduta, regional administration and finance manager, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Kaylee Chantelle; ICU Nurse at Aga Khan University Hospital, Rosemary Ngenya, underwriter assistant at Xplico Insurance Company.
Others are Lucy Mburu, a human resources superintendent at Base Titanium Ltd, Rahab Gichanja, a revenue accountant at Kenya Power, Ruth Wanjohi, an accountant at Kenya Commercial Bank, Muthoni Njoki, an ICT officer at Narok County, Anne Wangui, a credit controller at Kenya Orient Insurance Company, Elizabeth Nyokabi, structural engineer at E. Trade company, Neemah Muigai, electrical engineer, Kenya Bureau of Standards and Lilian Koech, a data communication and network access engineer at Huawei.
