This girls’ school derived its name from Mary, the Blessed Virgin and mother of Jesus, and the hill where it stands along the Thika-Gatukuyu Road. It was founded by the Sisters of Our Lady of Africa in 1933, the year Sir Joseph Aloysius Byrne was Kenya’s Governor and Commander-in-Chief.
‘Maheel’, as it is nicknamed, began as the only option for girls from mixed races who were discriminated against in African, European and Asian Schools.
It is now a prestigious national girls’ school and many former students have never forgotten Sr Elizabeth Nziwa, the principal who instilled the fear of God, via strict discipline, in this school where games were compulsory, neatness worshipped and academics exalted.
While Mahee has a bakery for cakes, school cooks Mweru and ‘Symo’ were a favourite of many girls. Just as popular is music teacher Mr Mwangi, who choreographs many of the school’s trophy-winning dances during the music and drama festivals, to which they once rode in the lorry-type school bus nicknamed ‘Matchbox.’
The vehicle was later replaced by the ‘Stallion’ or manyanga. Mary Hill Girls won the best school category during the 2002 Chaguo La Teeniez awards.
Notable alumni nurtured by the motto ‘Toil for Excellence’ include; Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro and gospel musicians Neema Ntalel and Yvonne Makena - the winner of the Groove Awards Worship Song Of The Year in 2013.
Other alumni who wore blue-striped shirts and navy blue trousers and sung the school anthem Unsere Maryhill our home/United we are one/Unsere Maryhill our home/Forward ever backward never, are actress Shirleen Wangari (Shish of Tahidi High) and The Standard’s award-winning health reporter, Joy Wanja-Muraya.
