Mang'u High School - Notable Alumni

Notable Alumni

Mang'u High School has been highly influential in shaping the history and future of Kenya with most spheres dominated by its alumni. Alumni share a strong bond and are known to give each other preferential treatment in job offers and contracts. The school has a respectful profile of many successful alumni, including politicians, businessmen, lawyers, engineers, doctors, scientists, clergymen and pilots. Mang'u High School will probably be the only high school in Kenya's history to have its alumni running the country as President and Vice President at the same time. From 25 September 2003 to 9 January 2008 Mang'u High School alumni ruled Kenya as President and Vice President including many members of cabinet. Among the high profile politicians who studied at Mang'u High School are President Mwai Kibaki who attained the maximum possible score. He is entered in the 1947 school register as Emilio Mwai s/o Kibaki from Othaya, Nyeri District. Described as a brilliant student and a keen Catholic, he scored As in Geography, Kiswahili and Arithmetic, but managed only Cs in Geometry, English, Latin, Chemistry, Physics and Hygiene. Schoolmates in the lower classes say he was outspoken and joyous, but did not show much interest in extra-curricular activities like sport but at Mang'u, he is remembered as a great debater.

Former Vice-President Moody Awori is entered in the 1944 register as Asanasio Mudeyi s/o the Rev Jeremiah Awori of North Kavirondo district (now Busia). Although now the respected old man of Kenya politics, at Mang'u he was given to boyish mischief. The head teacher described his character in some fairly harsh words and gave that as the reason why the school refused to take him back for upper secondary education, in spite of a sterling performance in the lower level. The young Awori excelled in languages, history, geography and agriculture, but fell flat in mathematics, algebra and geometry. Cabinet Minister George Saitoti who was also a Vice President of Kenya, left Mang'u before sitting his Cambridge School Certificate examination (O-level) on winning a scholarship to the United States, where he enrolled at Brandeis University in Massachusetts in 1962 to study mathematics. The late Cabinet Minister John Michuki was a school captain and also met President Mwai Kibaki at Mang'u. Michuki was in the 1952-1954 class and his records state he was "industrious, energetic and a little too hard on fellow students". It is perhaps because of that latter trait that he was appointed head prefect at Mang'u. He was also good in football and athletics.

Another Alumni who served as Cabinet Minister in Mwai Kibaki's administration is Agriculture Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa who was in Mang'u's O- level class of 1977-80. The school appears to have prepared him for a career in politics, at least going by the remarks in his school-leaving certificate. It reads: "He was outspoken and frank. Above average in intelligence and of exemplary character." Mr Kirwa was a class prefect in the lower classes and a dormitory captain when in Forms III and IV. He also excelled in athletics, particularly the sprints and relays. Another Alumni who served as a Cabinet Minister is Cyrus Jirongo who was in the Mang'u O-level class of 1978 to 1981. His school records says he was "argumentative, joyous, impatient and always questioning the order of things." He was also a star footballer, secretary of the debating club and member of the school drama troupe. Schoolmates also remember CJ, as they called him, as always top of the list of suspected ring leaders any time the students had a showdown with the school authorities. However, they say he was cunning enough to get away with it and was never suspended. Another Cabinet Minister is the late Tom Mboya who was one of Kenya's principal leaders that agitated for Kenya's independence. Other notable alumni include Cardinal Maurice Michael Otunga who was in the first graduating class. Shortly after sitting Cambridge Examinations he walked out of Mangu straight into the Major Seminary at Kakamega without waiting for his results. This frustrated his father’s ambition of making him his successor as Chief of South Bukusu. He was later in life to become a Religious Chief of the whole Catholic Church in Kenya. His records at Mang'u (1941–43) indicate he failed in every subject except general science and algebra. He even scored F for failure in the tools of his lifetime calling: Scripture Studies and Latin, and also failed in English and Kiswahili. But in spite of that, the headmaster captured the young Otunga's other strengths in the following words: "He is one of the finest characters ever in Mang'u; captain of the First Eleven and an all-round sportsman." Other clergymen are Archbishop Ndingi Mwana Nzeki, Archbishop John Njenga who also met Mwai Kibaki and Moody Awori at Mang'u and says he taught Moody Awori catechism. He did not do well in scripture studies. Neither is it indicated that he was active in religious activities. Many of those who have met him speak of a humble and compassionate old man, yet while at Mang'u from 1944–47, Mr Njenga's headteacher thought he suffered from hubris. He wrote of him: "A seminarist via Lyoki Primary School. Sturdy but thought a lot of himself. Perhaps not his fault." Mr Njenga was however described as a bright student who excelled in algebra, agriculture, and Latin. Others are Bishop Anthony Muheria, a close friend of President Mwai Kibaki and was appointed by him to be a member of the Judicial Service Commission.

Dr Joseph Barrage Wanjui(Joe Wanjui) CBS, Chancellor University of Nairobi, Chairman and CEO of East African Industries (Unilever). Described as "reliable" in the school records and also by his head at Mang'u in 1957 as "a student of fair intelligence but one who had to apply himself to make the grade through sheer hard work". The report concluded that he was "a most satisfactory, thoroughly energetic and reliable prefect". "He is truthful, pleasant, honest and hard-working." Mr Hillary Ng'weno, Media Magnate, is the founder of STV (Stellavision television). Nuclear scientist educated at Harvard, first Kenyan Editor-in-Chief of Daily Nation. He joined Mang'u in 1952 and although he excelled in most subjects with straight As, he was poor in those that were to be at the core of his career, scoring Cs in both English and Kiswahili. Mr Ng'weno's registration name was Hilarious Bonifes and he was described as a Samia from Nairobi. His unusual home address was EARH, Makongeni Locomotive Shed, P.O. Box 753 Nairobi. Various other alumni have been appointed to head Parastatals and Commissions by the President. Joseph Konzolo is a former director of the National Social Security Fund (Kenya) and was also a former chairman of the Board of Governors of Mang'u High School. His school records tell of a student who was "very reliable" and the only student who did not take part in any school strike in the four years he was at Mang'u. Mr Konzolo was a school prefect and performed well in electronics and aviation. He was also good in athletics and hockey and was described as a committed Christian and an official of the school's Christian Union. Dr. Joshua Noreh performed Kenya's first In vitro fertilisation. Prof. Raphael J. Njoroge, PhD. is an educationist who is an alumni and was also its first African principal. Some of the pilots of the now defunct East African Airways and senior pilots at Kenya Airways came from Mang'u High School.

See also: Category:Alumni of Mang'u High School

• Dr. Evans Kidero, CEO Mumias Sugar Company, former MD Smithkline Beecham and Nation Newspapers
• Maxx Ng'ang'a, CEO Crysoft Labs
• Michael JK Sang, Chairman, Mumias Sugar Company (1991–2003), 1st Commissioner of Sports(1988–1990), Educationist(1956–1988).
• Dr Kipkerich Kosgei, Chief Government Pharmacist, Pharmacy and Poisons Board
• George Muhoho, CEO Kenya Airports Authority
• Mr Francis Lekolol, Former PC Nairobi and Western, 1st Samburu to join Mang'u in 1956
• Mr Wilfred Kiboro, CEO Nation Media Group
• Dr K.K Gakombe, CEO Metropolitan Hospital
• Dr. Samuel MG Mwinzi, Neurologist Nairobi Hospital, Chief Medical Specialist Kenyatta National Hospital
• The late Prof Hillary Ojiambo, 1st Cardiologist in sub-Saharan Africa, co-founder of Kenya Cardiac Society
• Prof Raphael Munavu, Commissioner, Commission on Revenue Allocation, previously Chairman, Kenya National Examinations Council
• Dr Gitahi Kariuki PHD, Nuclear Safety Engineer, Canada.
• Dr Stephen Mbithi, CEO Horticultural Council of Africa and CEO Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya (FPEAK)
• Prof. Fulbert Namwamba, Southern University Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
• Hon. Titus Mbathi, Chairman, Kenya Electricity Generating Company
• Hon. Peter Nyakiamo, General Manager of Barclays Bank Kenya Limited, Elected Kenya African National Union (KANU) MP for Mbita (in 1983 and 1988), Minister of State in the Office of the President (1983–85), Minister of Health (1985–87), Minister of Lands and Settlements (1987–88), Chairman of the Kenya Revenue Authority (1995–98), Executive Chairman of Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB, since March, 1998)
• The late Sam Waruhiu, pioneer lawyer, businessman, classmate with Mwai Kibaki at Mang'u High School, Eisenhower fellow 1965.
• The late Khadambi Asalache, Kenyan poet and author who settled in London in 1960, later a civil servant at HM Treasury, taught Swahili at the Berlitz School, and worked for the BBC African Service.
• Binyavanga Wainaina, author, journalist and winner of the Caine Prize, nominated by the World Economic Forum as a "Young Global Leader" but declined the award.
• Dr. Gitahi Githinji Managing Director, Monitor Publications, a subsidiary of Nation Media Group, former Smile Train's Regional Director of Africa
• Captain Elly Aluvale, CEO JetLink Express
• Mr Vincent Kambo
• Mr Raphael Ngethe
• Mr David Oniango
• Mr Dominic Odipo, columnist and lecturer, University of Nairobi

The Mang'u Old Boys Group is active and has opened an Office at the school with a main objective to keep track of the Mang'u Old Boys and reunite them. They are also represented at the Board of Governors and have a dorm named in their memory. The Alumni Office has a lot to offer the Mang'u Old Boys. Some of these benefits will include: Social events e.g. sports & other leisure activities, which in turn create an opportunity to form business networks and other relations with mutual benefits. This is just in addition to the primary benefit of reuniting with old friends and sharing fun times together. The school currently needs a social networking platform where alumni can exchange job opportunities with each other in the job market. Currently alumni have a very active yahoo group known as Jishinde Ushinde, a Facebook group and a LinkedIn group. Several alumni sponsor needy students at the school and proposed Old Boys Endowment Fund is in the works.