Alliance High School cook leads others to share in joy of top examination performers

Paul Akai has worked as a cook at Alliance High School for 31 years.

He believes discipline in the dinning hall and dormitories also contributes to success in the examination. 

 “Students at Alliance are well behaved when they queue for food. They do not bully others and they address cooks with utmost respect,” noted Akai.

He says he has noticed that disciplined and humble students often achieve good grades. However, the rowdy,  naughty ones do not perform as well.

Victorious team

Jovial and willing to speak  about his job, Akai is proud that he picked up the art of cooking from his father who served in the same kitchen for 25 years before he retired.

The 52-year-old is delighted to be part of a victorious team.

  “It gives me great satisfaction to know that through my cooking, I help the students become the best.”

Akai takes pride when the candidates pass by the kitchen  to thank him for his contribution  to their examination  success.

Another cook feels the same way at  St Anthony Boys, Kitale.  For  27 years, Boniface Simiyu Tingwei has had a special relationship with the students of St Anthony Boys where he is a senior cook.

The veteran cuisine master has over the years warmed his way into the hearts of  students  by being instrumental in guiding and counselling them besides preparing their meals.

“Success here is a combination of discipline and hard work, both in academics and extra-curricular activities,” notes Simiyu.

Simiyu’s core responsibility is to ensure that meals are cooked and served punctually so that  students attend their lessons and revision.

At Kapsabet Boys, Moses Kiptanui has served   as chief chef for five years.

With a team of 15 stewards, kitchen hands and wcooks, Kiptanui ensures meals are ready on time. 

  He says he enjoys a cordial relationship with the boys, who he says are time-conscious and disciplined.

He is delighted to have been part of a team that posted outstanding examination  results and attributes the good performance to team work and coordination.

He fondly remembers last year’s dining hall captain,    Nehemiah, who he describes  as a good leader.

Great boy

“He was a great boy and one of our best students. I worked with him closely because he was an authoritative person who maintained discipline,” he says of Nehemia.

Kiptanui says feeding such a large number of people is no easy task. But he enjoys and loves his job.  

Agnes Osuka, 41, has served as a cook at Maseno School in Kisumu  for 19 years.

She could not hide her joy following the school’s good showing. Osuka says the students are disciplined and   take pride in being part of an institution that has consistently performed well.

“Our main diet is githeri and uji (porridge),” she reveals.

 “The boys are served tea and bread at 7 O’clock every morning. At 10am, they also take tea, before lunch at 1pm and supper at 6.30pm,” Osuka says.

However, the candidates receive  “special treatment”, probably to motivate and to give them more energy to work harder.

“At 9.30pm everyday  they are served tea and mandazi, says Osuka.