There are school principals and then there are legendary principals. We profile the men and women who transformed and changed schools, as well as touched the lives of their students.
1. Dr Geoffrey Griffin: The founding director of Starehe Boys’ Centre and School - that was popularly known as ‘Starch’ - ensured it was consistently in the top five position countrywide. He ran the school through barazas, where prefects and students had more say than teachers. ‘Starch’ organises Founder’s Day every year, while the Old Starehean Society is one of the best alumni bodies.
2. Christopher Khaemba: The executive member in charge of Education in Nairobi’s County Government was an officer and pilot with the Kenya Air Force before quitting in 1984 and joining Alliance High School, or ‘Bush’ as the students called it. He was at Alliance as a maths and physics teacher. In the 14 years he was at ‘Bush,’ he rose from Housemaster, Careers Master, Senior Master, Deputy Principal to Principal. Due to his no-nonsense approach to leadership, students nicknamed him ‘Sodium.’
3. Cleophas Tirop: Currently a commissioner with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Tirop is synonymous with transforming Kapsabet Boys into an academic powerhouse. The one-time head of Kenya Secondary Schools Heads Association was later to become the principal of Nairobi School in 2010 until his appointment to TSC.
4. Paul Otula: He turned Maseno School not only into an academic giant, but also a centre of sporting excellence. As its basketball coach, Maseno clinched the East Africa Regional Secondary School title twice, besides being ranked third best (junior basketball team) in Africa.
5. Ruth Cheruiyot: When she was promoted from deputy headteacher at Kenya High, she had to literally look for Pangani Girls, which she transformed through toughness from a little-known institution to the largest girls school in Nairobi. ‘Cherry’ as, ‘Pango’ students called her, was a high-handed disciplinarian who brooked no nonsense.
6. SS Maneno: He was the principal of Alliance Boys, but is best remembered for heading Lenana School, where, through charisma, he moulded all ‘Changes’ (as Lenana was nicknamed) learners into rounded students.
7. Sr Maria Pacis Vogel: The last nun to head Precious Blood School, Riruta, or PB, once said that her foremost goal was not academic achievement, but the integrity and well-being of the whole young person. The level of discipline and self development was immense in her time. She left in 2001.
8. Henry Kiplagat: He was the principal of Moi High School Kabarak for 14 years from 2001. He was the epitome of order who did not believe in caning, but disciplining from the mind.... not forceful. In his time, students at Kabarak were always on their best behaviour and punctual, with or without a bell ringing.
9. Kiptum Kibet: At Sunshine Secondary, things did not just fall into place. No, strict Mr Kiptum happened. Respected by teachers and parents, the man with a special interest in mathematics and sciences has paced Sunshine along other top performers nationally.
10. Boaz Owino: The holder of a master’s degree in literature from Kenyatta University took Maranda High School to the top of the table in 2012’s KCSE.
