- Pioneers and successors of the school are counting achievements realized in academics, extracurricular activities, infrastructure and leadership.
- Senior Principal, Dr. Tabitha Mogonchi explains that the birth of the school was a game changer, saying it has empowered the girl-child educationally, demystifying the retrogressive myth that it is only the boy-child entitled to accessing education.
- Eighteen students and two teachers have written a book ‘Leading Forward: Kereri Girls leadership Journey’ to be launched during the celebration. Terming it a milestone for the students, the Principal notes that a US based Scholar, Dr. Teresa Lawrence, under the Trueness Project, partnered with the school and mentored the girls to write a book.
As Kereri Girls High School turns 60, there is a lot for former and current stakeholders to celebrate.
Pioneers and successors of the school are counting achievements realized in academics, extracurricular activities, infrastructure and leadership.
Background
The school was started by missionaries under the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) in 1965.
PAOC changed to the Pentecostal Assemblies of East Africa ( PAEA) and later on to the Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) Kenya, headquartered in Nyang’ori, Western Kenya.
Kereri has produced top notch professionals serving in formal and informal sectors nationally and globally.
It started as a mixed intermediate school before transitioning to a girls’-only institution to ostensibly give the girl-child an opportunity to learn at a time when some parents and guardians never valued their education due to retrogressive cultural beliefs.
In the Gusii traditional society, a majority of parents never took their daughters to school. They wanted them to grow, get married, earn them dowry, enrich the family, be proud of their wealth and be respected by community members.
Senior Principal, Dr. Tabitha Mogonchi explains that the birth of the school was a game changer.
She says it has empowered the girl-child educationally, demystifying the retrogressive myth that it is only the boy-child entitled to accessing education.
“We are going to celebrate Kereri @60 or Diamond Jubilee on February 16. It is important for the school to celebrate its achievements, that we have witnessed over time,” Dr. Mogonchi said during an exclusive interview with Scholar Media Africa.
She says 18 students and two teachers have written a book ‘Leading Forward: Kereri Girls leadership Journey’ to be launched during the celebration.
Terming it a milestone for the students, the Principal notes that a US based Scholar, Dr. Teresa Lawrence, under the Trueness Project, partnered with the school and mentored the girls to write a book.
Dr. Mogonchi, who succeeded Dr. Teresa Datche in 2023, says the girls have a talent in writing and they will be linked to authors and other professionals to mentor them.
She says established authors will share their rich experience with the girls, motivate them and make the school shine as it scales heights.
“I thank the Board of Management (BoM), government officers, the clergy, teachers, political leaders, support staff, community members and other stakeholders for embracing and supporting me,” Dr. Mogonchi asserts.
Determined to Pierce the Sky
The school’s performance, notes the Principal has improved in academics steadily with thousands of students qualifying to join universities, middle level colleges and technical institutions to acquire knowledge and skills to improve their lives and contribute to the country’s economic growth.
The school has been scoring a mean of not less than 7 and with the highest enrollment nationally.
Deputy Principal, Academics, Mr. Kennedy Gichana says discipline, hard work, committed staff and support by stakeholders has aided improve the school’s performance.
He says the improved performance has created confidence as parents and guardians continue to send their children to the school.
“Very few students used to join universities. We have improved gradually and more are joining. The trend is good and I thank our stakeholders for the support,” Gichana states.
Infrastructural Progress
On infrastructure, Dr. Mogonchi says an 750-capacity dormitory, funded by the government, is being constructed at the school to accommodate the growing number of girls. This surge in enrolment has been due to the government’s policy of 100 percent transition from primary to secondary schools.
“The dormitory is spacious, will make the girls comfortable, and foster their education and performance in national examinations,” Dr. Mogonchi explains, stressing that the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Education, Hon. Julius Ogamba (EBS) has pledged to give the school more funds to complete its construction.
The Principal has expanded and modernized the administration office to accommodate more visitors and increased Closed Circuit Televisions ( CCTV) cameras to enhance security in the school.
She says a tuition block with 12 classrooms is under construction to accommodate the school’s increasing student population.
“Our student population increased from 3000 in 2023 to 3400 but was reduced to 2500 after Form one was phased out as a result of the ongoing phase-out of 8-4-4 by the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC),” Dr. Mogonchi says.
Extra-curricular Activities
The Principal notes the school has also excelled in extra-curricular activities and taken students to national and regional competitions from time to time.
She explains that the school’s Scouting Club took position one last year and represented the country at the East Africa Region during finals held in Nairobi in December 2024.
The school, notes the Principal, does well in Science Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fair, drama, music and chess which goes up to national level.
The Principal notes that various leaders have helped the school with education bursaries from respective government kitties to help learners from poor families access and complete their education to enhance their lives.
She asserts that the alumni, chaired by Dr. Mary Bosire, sponsors some orphans and a few students from needy families to access education and exploit their potential.
The immediate former Deputy Principal for Administration, Joyce Kemunto, an alumnae, lauds the alumni for supporting learners from impoverished homes, saying it gives them hope of excelling in their education.
“The mentorship programmes by the alumni shapes the students’ attitudes and inspires them to do more to excel in life,” she notes.
Dr. Bosire, the chairperson, Kereri Girls Alumni Association (KGAA) who is a don at Egerton University says the group which was formed in 2022 aims to give back to the school.
She notes they have incorporated alumni cohorts to boost the students’ confidence, overcome negativity and fear, stressing that it has members from the 1970s up to 2021.
“We want to mentor the students, sponsor, expand networks, and lobby for financial support and other resources for the institution,” Dr. Bosire states.
The official says they are facing challenges of identifying all the alumni and tagging them along, adding, they are determined to get all, strengthen the association and support the school and students to continue shining. They hold their alma mater with high esteem.
Julie Otieno who is the Parents Association (PA) Chairperson says class representatives and the management have supported the school to perform well in the national examinations.
Interacting with parents, notes the official, has given her an experience to unite them and speak in one voice for the students to remain focused in their education and carry the school’s flag higher.
“Whenever we have challenges, we discuss and convert them to opportunities for the welfare of our students. I urge parents to unite and pay fees in time for the school to run smoothly,” Otieno says.
Association members who have been chairperson of the school include; Rev. Samson Nyachieo, 2013 to 2015, Musa Mogoi, 2016 to 2019, and Julie Otieno, 2020 to date.
The school has had several Board of Management chairpersons including Nelson Maragia: 1970- 1973, Rev. Michael Nyakundi, 1974-1985, Wilson Ainda, 1985-1996, Zephania Muruka, 2006- 2013, Mogire Magara, 2013-2016, James Maganda, 2016-2022 and Rev. Lawrence Morara, 2022 to date.
Principals who have headed the school are; June Deacon, 1965- 1976, Mrs R. Akach, 1976-1976, Mrs PM Bosire, 1976-1988, Mrs K. Nyabonga, 1989-1993, Mrs A. Masenge, 1993-2005, Madam Esther Ongo’ndi, 2006-2018, Dr. Teresa Datche, 2018-2023 and Amb. Dr. Tabitha Mogonchi, 2023 to date.
According to records, the school produced great personalities when it was intermediate and mixed school some of whom include; the late Minister and presidential candidate, Hon. Simeon Nyachae and former Cabinet Minister and Bobasi Member of Parliament, Hon. Chris Obure, among others.
Hon. Nyachae and Hon. Obure later moved to the neighboring school, then Government African School (GAS) currently Kisii School, which was also started by missionaries in 1934.
Records show that the first principal started with very few students and were housed in the current Block B, constructed by the missionaries.
The immediate community’s cultural beliefs that girls were a source of wealth through dowry hampered the education of the girl-child and, in 1965; the school was turned to a girls’-only institution.
“Deacons and teachers had a difficult task to reach out to the girls. They offered scholarships to the students as incentives and at times they used student ambassadors to reach out to the community during church services and crusades,” says a report compiled by Elias Moturi who is in charge of the school’s Quality Assurance and Standards.
Moturi sourced the information from Rev. Nemwel Omenta. The PAG church helped in establishing schools Sameta Boys’, Itibo Girls’, Nyang’ori Boys’ High Schools among others.
“We have had female leaders from this region supporting our girls with sanitary pads to make them comfortable. They also mentor them,” Dr. Mogonchi says, adding that she expects more girls in the school to excel in academics and transit to universities.
The Principal says they are prepared for the three pathways-Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), Social Sciences, and Art Sports under the CBC model.
The school expects high enrolment and work force as CBC rolls on.
Accolades
Dr. Mogonchi has won several awards for her exemplary focus in management, leadership and scholarly work.
Last year, Imaginary Glass Ceiling (Jeannette Collier) recognized her as a distinguished leader owing to her efforts in supporting Transformational Education Development in Kenya.
iChange Nations (ICN) recognized her for supporting civil discourse and gave her the World Civility Ambassador award in December last year in Liberia.
“I was appointed into the Golden Rule Network as a World Civic Ambassador. It is by God’s grace” Dr. Mogonchi says.
During Mashujaa Day in Kwale County last year, she was among those declared heroines for her work in scholarship, professionalism and research.
The Principal was awarded a degree of Humane Letters for her distinguished service in leadership and management.
And, during peace talks in international forums and advocacy, she was awarded a humanitarian peace award for her work.
The school’s BOM chairman, Rev. Lawrence Morara says the institution is on the right track and lauds pioneers for their vision and mission.
“We have a sole responsibility of giving the best to keep up the legacy of these pioneers.”
He says the school reduced the number of BOM teachers after form one was phased out in the new CBC system.
“We have a majority of Teachers Service Commission (TSC) teachers and few employees by the Board to help in some subjects” Rev. Morara says, adding the future of the school is bright.
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