Changez: School where students used state house as dorm

Lenana School. (Courtesy)

Lenana School was founded in January 1949 by colonial governor Philip Euen Mitchell in Karen, Nairobi.

This was to respond to Europeans settlers’ plea for a post primary institution. The school was known as the Duke of York School, named after a British World War II battleship, and was reserved for white students only within the Kenya colony.

Commonly Known as ‘Changez,’ the school saw its pioneer cohort of 20 students accommodated at the residence of the then British Colonial Governor, Sir Philip Mitchell, which is currently State House.

Under the leadership of founding principal R H James, the school provided a comprehensive educational experience. Students and teachers were relieved of janitorial, laundry, dining, and ground keepers work to allow them to focus on academics, sports, and leisure activities.

The institution boasted impressive facilities including a golf course, rifle range, cricket oval, swimming pool and more, catering primarily to white students from British settler families.

However, it wasn’t until the mid-1960s that Lenana School began to diversify, admitting its first black and Asian students, marking a significant transition in the school’s identity and ethos. In recognition of its African roots, the school was renamed Lenana School, after Chief Laibon Lenana, a Maasai leader who collaborated with the British during colonial times.

The change also brought about a shift in the school’s culture, with alumni transitioning from being referred to as Old Yorkists to Laibons. Dr James Kamunge made history as the first African headmaster, ushering in a new era of leadership and inclusivity.

At Lenana School, former students reminisce about dorm life, disciplinary measures, and the shift from colonial to more inclusive practices. The bell from HMS Duke of York was still mounted on a bell-shed by the front of the school parade ground between the school chapel and the hall. The sixth-formers were the only ones allowed to wear trousers and were more feared than teachers. Currently, the school has a student population of 2000 under the leadership of William Kemei.

Despite this, ‘Changez’ continues to thrive, producing notable alumni who have made significant contribution to various fields, including politics, journalism, conservation and in the business field.