The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media
platforms spanning newspaper print
operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The
Standard Group is recognized as a
leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and
international interest.
Mbale Secondary School dates back to when Kenya became a colony in 1920.
At the time, Mbale was a cattle trading centre under a mzambarau (plum tree) when traders from Vihiga, Nandi and Kakamega counties converged most Saturdays for barter trade.
But things changed when Friends African Mission (FAM) came calling and decided to start a primary school to meet the learning aspirations of traders.
It later became Mbale Harambee Mixed Secondary School before the government took charge in 1964. It later morphed into a boys-only boarding school in 1984, when girls were transferred to Maragoli Girls High School, now St Clare’s Maragoli Girls High School.
Mbale Secondary School popularised zilizopendwa songs and elevated them to signature tunes now common at the Kenya Music Festival, where they showcased their famous signature tune, Sama Sama, arranged by music maestro Stephen Chole.
‘Barelians’ viewed the kitchen as a shrine of ugali, rice and githeri (murrum) with pieces of beef served most Saturdays by Johnny the cook, who often barked, “Kwani hukuona white smoke ujue ni mnofu!”
Boys cherished riding in ‘Zebu’ or ‘Sambaza,’ the ‘face-me’ school bus, to Tigoi Girls Secondary School. Things have however changed and the boys now have a 62-seater. Those who sneaked out through the iron-sheets fence for sessions of varivayo jig (Luhya funeral night vigil dance) around the school, got punished by being fined 10 rolls of barbed wire!
Notable alumni still guided by the motto ‘Knowledge is Power’ who fetched water from River Lunyerere for kitchen use include former Vihiga Governor Moses Akaranga; Vihiga County Assembly clerk Mbaka Kiring’a and Clarence Munga, the of MCA Kabiro ward (Nairobi).
Stephen Mukhala Lijoodi, the Amani National Congress youth leader was also a student here.
Others who sported black trousers, navy-blue shirts, navy-blue sweaters and black ties include media personalities Mate Tongola, a reggae presenter for Radio Maisha; Musalia Mudambi of Vuka FM and Kagai Otengo of Nation Media Group.
Those who retired to Mudavadi A and B, Mudangane, Nyayo, States, Asava and Soweto dorms include Dr Oliver Kisaka, the managing director of Corat Africa and former secretary at NCCK (before moving to Maseno School for A-levels); Dr Benson Edagwa, University of Nebraska, USA where he has invented nine HIV/Aids drugs; Philip Amuyunzu, lecturer at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology; Stephen Sangira, the CEO of Capricon Ltd; Wilberforce Mwenesi, the CEO of Blue Media Images and John Agesa, sales rep at Serena Hotel, Nairobi.
