St Joseph’s Girls, where dozing in class was a crime

St Joseph’s Girls High School, Kitale was established in 1993, when it curved off St Joseph’s High School. The split from mixed to girl's school was to improve academic performance of the girls, as well as their enrollment.

Situated along the Kitale-Kakamega main road, 7km from Kitale town, the school began as a one-stream, with the girls allocated 45 acres on which it stands today. For a long time, the school was nicknamed ‘JOGA’, with Mrs Florence Oginda (1993 – 1999) as the first head teacher. The school bus nicknamed ‘Royal’ came in handy during sports and other school outings, with Mukwasi on the wheels.  

With time, the school has gradually registered six streams and was elevated to a national school. Seven head teachers have been at the helm, with Rosebella Khatenje as the current Chief Principal. The student population stands at 1,498. Initially, the girls shared a playing field with St Joseph’s Boys. However, despite this close interaction, the boys preferred tuning ‘chicks’ from St Brigid’s Girls High School, which sparked a rivalry between the two girls’ schools.

Punishment for those found dozing off in class was washing the dormitories and weeding flower beds the whole day. Those who came last on the class log were also made to endure the humiliation of  being paraded before the entire school every Monday before being caned as punishment.

Old girls still hold fond memories of John Wambilianga and Maleche who taught Chemistry and Agriculture. Hockey was the most popular sport and in 2017, the school represented the country in Gulu, Uganda, for the East Africa School Games.

Notable alumni who sang the school motto “Knowledge Flowers In Virtues’’, clad in purple skirts, with light gray sweaters with white and purple stripes on the neck, white blouses, and  purple ties with white stripes, include Mary Muraya, Lecturer, Kenya Institute of Supplies Management (KISM), Grace Sitienei, Data Analyst, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Sarah Pringan, Chief Accountant, Turkana University College, Rose Chemiat, Solar Engineer, Davis and Shirtliff and Eva Wendy, IRCAM.

Others who enjoyed fish with ugali for supper served by Godfrey Wekesa  include Elizabeth Nekesa (SGR train driver), Hellen Natasha (Absa bank), Patricia Lel (Kapa Oil), Victoria Nelima (Chief Cashier, Equity Bank), Wendie Atieno (Engineer and Environmentalist), Janis Keya (Miss Tourism Kenya 2018), Sheila Rono (Miss Intercontinental Kenya 2017), Misto Sylvia (Miss Trans Nzoia 2019), Lisa Magero (Senior Teacher, Brookhouse Schools), Stella Sikhila (Women’s National Basketball team captain) and Mulati Nemali, Fashion and Commercial Model.