According to The Standard, the Catholic Church of Kenya runs 31% of all schools in the country. Over the years, these schools have carved a niche for themselves with their exemplary performance in national examinations.
Some notable catholic schools in Kenya include Loreto High Schools Limuru, Murang’a High School, Bura Girls, Mukumu Girls, Asumbi Girls, St. Joseph Rapogi, and St. Anthony Boys, just to name a few.
In this article, WoK looks at prominent Kenyans who attended catholic schools:
Uhuru Kenyatta – St Mary’s School Msongari
According to historical records, the former president joined St. Mary’s while he was barely six years old. It was there that he completed his A levels alongside other prominent Kenyans like Gideon Moi.
In 2020, the former president led students, staff, and the school alumni in celebrating 80 years since the Nairobi–based school was incepted.
In the event, Uhuru was donned in the school blazer complete with the logo and tie. He joked about how their head teacher back in the days was revered like a god, and how he disciplined students regardless of their social status.
In those days, St Mary’s Msongari was reserved for the children of prominent Kenyans like Mwai Kibaki, Jomo Kenyatta, and Daniel Moi.
Mwai Kibaki – Mang’u High School
Among the numerous schools that had the honor of hosting the future third president of Kenya in their classrooms, Mang’u played an important role. It was there that Kibaki sat for his O-level exams in 1947, ranking first in a class of 32. The school was known as Holy Ghost College at the time.
This exemplary performance propelled him to Makerere University and later the London School of Economics.
Aside from Kibaki, Mangu’s list of alumni boasts of prominent Kenyans like Hon. Cyrus Jirongo, Evans Kidero, Prof. George Saitoti, and Former CBK Governor Patrick Njoroge, among others.
Judi Wakhungu – Loreto Convent Msongari
Judi made history as the first female petroleum geologist to serve in the National Oil Corporation of Kenya and the first female faculty member at the Department of Geology at the University of Nairobi.
Under Uhuru’s administration, she served as the CS for environment and regional development from April 2013 to January 2018. She also served as Kenya’s ambassador to France from 2018 before being recalled in 2023.
Loreto Msongari is one of the oldest schools in Kenya, established in 1921. The Nairobi-based school offers three curriculums: the almost defunct 8-4-4, the CBC, and the British IGCSE curriculums.
Anne Waiguru – Precious Blood Girls Secondary School
Waiguru, who is the second governor of Kirinyaga County, graced the halls of Precious Blood Girls Secondary School in Riruta, where she sat for her O-level exams in 1987.
She then proceeded to Moi Forces Academy where she sat for her A levels in 1989.
Her next stop was at Egerton University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agriculture and home economics before concluding her education journey at the University of Nairobi with a master’s degree in economics.
Caroline Mutoko – Loreto Convent Valley Road
The veteran radio personality attended Loreto Convent Valley Road for her primary and secondary education before proceeding to the UON to pursue a BA in Economics and Sociology.
Her media career, which spans over two decades, started at Capital FM, where she worked for four and a half years as an intern. She then joined Kiss 100, cohosting a breakfast show alongside Walter Mong’are for 14 years. She was also a weekly columnist at The Star Newspaper.
The outspoken feminist terminated her trailblazing radio career in March this year, saying it was time to move on.
Boniface Kinoti Gatobu – Nkubu High School
Gatobu is the former MP for Buuri Constituency in Meru County. When he was elected in 2013, he was the youngest legislator, aged only 26 years.
He joined Nkubu in 2001–2004 when he sat for his KCSE. He then proceeded to the University of Nairobi Lower Kabete Campus to Pursue a Bachelor of Commerce, which he completed in 2010.
A prolific writer, he has been featured in past Nairobi Stock Exchange publications. In 2010, he was awarded by Safaricom for designing the company’s best marketing plan for their brand ‘Safaricom Live’.
Kijana Wamalwa – St Joseph’s Primary School
Michael Christopher Kijana Wamalwa served as the 8th vice president of Kenya. He was the first of three vice presidents who served during Kibaki’s presidency. He was known for his love of the cartoon Tom and Jerry.
Wamalwa passed away in August 2003, just six months after assuming office. He became the second Kenyan to receive a state burial after Jomo Kenyatta.
He was a philanthropic man, and it was rumored that at the time of his death, his assets were far below those of his political counterparts.
These names represent a fraction of prominent Kenyans who graced the classrooms of Catholic schools.
