Prime Cabinet Secretary Mr. Musalia Mudavadi has lauded Waa Boys High School in Kwale County as a beacon of hope, shaping leaders and change-makers, and a testament to the dedication to education.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary was speaking Saturday when he launched celebrations to mark 100 years of the existence of the public secondary in Matuga sub-county.
“It’s exciting to grace Waa Boys High School’s centenary celebrations; this institution has been a pillar of education and community growth,” said Mudavadi, who also laid the foundation stone for an educational complex.
The school, which was established in 1923, was the first primary and secondary school in Kwale, started by Christian missionaries and colonialists, providing a rare early opportunity for formal learning in the coastal region. It has been an education anchor over the decades.
It used to appear among the best-performing public secondary schools in the country, and Mombasa, Lamu, and Kilifi counties used to compete to send their best pupils to join the school.
For many years, the school located along the Mombasa Lunga Lunga road linking Kenya and Tanzania has been the academic icon of the region and used to appear among the best-performing public secondary schools in the country.
Mombasa, Lamu, and Kilifi counties used to compete to send their best pupils to join the school, although poor performance has of late been eroding the school’s prominence.
Mudavadi was accompanied by Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu, and his Mining, Blue Economy, and Maritime Affairs colleague Salim Mvurya helped raise Sh28 million in a fundraiser for the school infrastructure development.
Others were Governor Fatuma Achani, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy, Kwale Woman Representative Fatuma Masito, Matuga MP Kassim Tandaza, Msambweni MP Feisal Bader, Changamwe MP Omar Mwinyi, and Likoni MP Mishi Mboko.
Speaking on the same occasion, Mvurya, who is also a former two-term governor of Kwale, said the school has in the past been an academic centre of excellence, drawing many students from several parts of the country.
“But of late, Waa Boys High School has been struggling to regain its past glory, but as local leaders, we are keen to turn around the situation,” he said.
On her part, Governor Achani said that in the past, the school inspired many local youth into becoming responsible leaders as it not only catered for students’ academic wellbeing but also the civility of all those who passed through it.
Achani said that her administration has so far increased the county’s annual ‘Elimu Ni Sasa’ bursary kitty from Sh 400 million to Sh 500 million to benefit more university and secondary school students.
“We want the school to go back to its glorious past and groom its students into well-rounded individuals as we seek to expand its modern infrastructure,” she said.
The centenary celebrations also marked a memorable homecoming for its old students, who would find solace in reminiscing about the good old days. Various activities have been held to mark the day, such as debates, sports, and drama activities.
Meanwhile, Mudavadi presided over the official handing over of a school bus bought by NG-CDF Msambweni constituency to Jomo Kenyatta primary school in Msambweni Sub County.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary said the national government has released Sh5 million that will help in the renovation of Jomo Kenyatta Primary School.
By Hussein Abdullahi
