Kapsabet Girls: Where maize harvesting was part of the curriculum

It was common, back in the 1990s, for Kapsabet Girls High School students to skip afternoon classes to harvest maize — illegally.

That however never dented the school’s development after it was founded in 1920s. This was after the school banned mkarango made from maize flour which students used to brew busaa. No wonder the thing had to be banned for life.

Today, the girls’ boarding school, located in Nandi County, offers Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) and is among the top national performers.

The reputable provincial girls’ school neighboured Kapasbet Boys High School, earlier known as Government African School, where former President Daniel arap Moi was school captain and head of the football team in 1938.

Old girls say Moi would still visit the school every term even after becoming president. Students would look forward to his visits which guaranteed they ate well and received other goodies.

Although there are no severe cases of indiscipline, alumni from the 1990s recall one time when cases of alcohol brewing within the school farm was prevalent.

These cases have since reduced since the girls are no longer in farm work, and are no longer left to wonder to the stream outside the school to fetch water to for livestock or wash their clothes.

Cross-country activities were compulsory, and girls would go round tea plantations down to the famous Chebarbar river and back through Namgoi shopping centre.

Some of notable alumni who donned the grey skirts and ties, red sweaters, white blouses and socks, include Dr Sally Kosgei — before she joined Alliance Girls High School for her A levels - Miss Earth Kenya 2006 Emma Madegwa, Miss Tourism Kericho County 2014 Sharon Chepkemoi Rugut, Senator Zipporah Kittony and Health PS Dr Khadijah Kasachoon.