User:Godfreysang/Kapsabet High School

A History of the Government African School - Kapsabet ...

As one of the leading schools in Kenya, what is today the Kapsabet High School in Nandi District, started in humble beginnings nearly a century as a vocational institution meant to produce useful persons for the Kenyan nation. The idea of starting a school in Nandi was first mooted in 1919 when a Nandi named Elijah Cheruiyot araap Chepkwony wrote to the District Commissioner in Nandi asking for a higher level school that could train Nandis in usable trades. In 1925, the Native Industrial Training School - Kapsabet was founded on land partly donated by Chepkwony and partly acquired by the Government. The first school Principal was Mr. George W.B. Huntingford, a twenty four year old Bachelor of Science graduate who would later become a distinguished historian and anthropologist. Mr. Huntingford was very interested in the Nandi culture and history and after a year or so of living among them, he wrote a substantive anthropological book that offers interesting glimpses about Nandi life in the 20’s. He even drew a map of the homesteads west of the school, identifying their occupants each by name and even the farms they worked, their individual character but most important, their cultural practices. Huntingford was in charge of the functions of the school and oversaw its establishment in the formative stages. He was assisted greatly by the fact that he spoke the Nandi language fluently, made friends easily and so getting the pupils would be made easier. He attended the DC’s barazas or ‘councils’ and worked with the Headmen to bring the pupils to his school. He left in August 1927 and Mr. C.A. Bungey took over on September 3, 1927. When Huntingford left the school he went to Ethiopia and continued his anthropological studies and eventually returned to England earning a DLitt. He died in 1978 aged 77 after a distinguished career as a professor in the London University School of Oriental and African Studies. Huntingford aggressively developed the young school and entered into competitions for sports and academics. In 1927 the school drill squad, competing for the first time in Denham Shield obtained 2nd place with 63% marks. Football was very popular among the pupils and an interschool competition with a mission school (Kaimosi Mission School) was organized and a township team as well. Kapsabet School became first. Sporting and other injuries in the school would account for about 1137 hospital visits by the pupils now numbering 86 up from 65 the previous year 1926. It appears that the sports were particularly aggressive or that the pupils were yet to learn how to participate in sports with minimum injuries. The school continued instructing pupils in industrial subjects and by the time Bungey took over, there were 16 pupils being instructed in Carpentry and 15 in brick-laying. By July 1929 Mr. Bungey was replaced by Mr. M. MacMunn who took over the charge of the school. Although his name sounds like Nandi, Mr. Bungey was in fact British and had first been stationed in Nairobi at the Public Works Department before taking up that post in Nandi. Many people would easily think that the school had in fact adopted a Nandi for a Principal but there was no Nandi back then that had attained that level of education.

Expanding the School

To modernize the school, Mr. P. McEwen was seconded to the school together with 23 apprentices from the Native Industrial Training Depot in Kabete and stayed in Kapsabet for 11 months to assist in the building program for the school. The staff as at that year included 1 European (Mr. MacMunn), 3 African Teachers and 3 African Instructors (one for Carpentry, another for Masonry and another for Tailoring). The tailoring instructor was Mr. Francis arap Biama who was the first Nandi Catechist. He was instrumental in spreading the Catholic faith in Nandi and even used the school to spread his faith. Biama had joined the Mill Hill Fathers who established the Chepterit Catholic Mission a short distance away from Kapsabet. The District Commissioner would comment that the Catholics had a better chance with the Africans than did the AIM. The Catholics tended to more permissive in their approach to African cultural practices than did the AIM. As the GAS was taking root, Reuben Seroney was busy starting ‘bush’ schools in Kapsowar (Elgeyo-Marakwet) and in Baringo Districts under the AIM and those who had finished the elementary school, he made arrangements for them to continue at the GAS which had attained the ‘intermediate’ school status. The missionaries were instrumental in peopling the GAS since they themselves did not offer any technical instruction at their schools. However, the chiefs and the headmen did the most work since it was part of their brief to ensure that those who could get an education would do so. In 1929, the Local Native Council voted £500 to further develop the school. Three teacher’s houses were erected at this time and three dormitories and the present kitchen and food stores, a wash-house, latrines and the dining hall as well as the school hall can be attributed to the 11 months McEwen spent in Kapsabet with his 23 apprentices from Kabete. The year was quite wet, it rained a lot and it was difficult to dry the bricks and continue the building work. This slowed the progress but indeed they continued. The office block was also built during this time and a school store as well. That year they had 89 pupils attending various programs with 49 learning various trades and 40 were in the junior classes. During that year 9 pupils were sent to Kabete Native Industrial Training Depot and were made to sign a 2 year apprenticeship contract before the end of an original 5 year contract. This only meant that they completed 2 years in Kabete before returning to complete the rest of their contract in Kapsabet. In July 1930 Mr. A. Roberts was seconded to the school from the Native Industrial Training Depot in Kabete to speed up the building programs. When the principal’s house was completed, there was a vacancy which allowed a new master to be incorporated to teach masonry. It was argued that the school should be able to produce useful people in society and so the need to equip the pupils with practical skills. The pupils thus provided the labour as part of their practical lessons and together they built some houses in the Teachers Quarters, a Bath house for the pupils and the Principal’s house. There were about 140,000 clay bricks in the school that were used for in the construction that year although the Tailoring block was constructed using concrete blocks. The average school age in 1929 was 15 but this was to fall to 13 in 1930. There were 19 boys who graduated in 1929 part of the team that Huntingford had taken in. A total of 14 were in employment at the end of that year. In 1930, 15 candidates entered the Elementary ‘B’ examination and 13 gained passes, four had distinctions and one gained a percentage score of 98.8% (to be further researched). In that year also, a permanent quarter-mile track with 120 yards straight, was made and sports would be held on the last day of the December term. 14 boys would compete in Uasin Gishu African Athletics Sports Association meeting at Eldoret in June and won 7 first prizes and 2 second prizes. In December 9, 1930 the Acting Governor Mr. H.M.M. Moore visited Kapsabet and inspected the station. Moore had replaced Sir Edward Grigg who had resigned and returned to Britain to join politics but would only remain in an acting capacity until February 13, 1931 when Sir Joseph A. Byrne was appointed the new Governor. Byrne also visited the school where he commended the good progress being made there. He was welcomed and conducted through the school by the DC Mr. C. Tomkinson. During that visit, Byrne gave the Headman Chepkiyieny arap Serem of Location 7 (Kilibwoni) a Certificate of Honour and a Medal in recognition of ‘long and loyal service to Government.’

Mobilizing Nandi pupils to attend the GAS

The D.C. Mr. Tomkinson left the post on May 4, 1930 and was replaced by Mr. A.A Seldon. Mr. E.M. Hyde-Clarke was also posted to Nandi as a District Officer. Seldon and Hyde-Clarke did the most to expand the school in its formative years. They conducted numerous barazas in which pupils were mobilized for the school. They also had the fledgling Provincial Administration through the local chiefs to send their sons and those of loyal subjects to the school. Chief Elijah Chepkwony who had been instrumental in establishing the school, sent his own son ‘Jabez Hans’ to the school in a letter dated August 3, 1932. The letter read as follows exactly as written by the good Chief:

Kapsabet 3rd August 1932, Kwa Bwana Jones c/o Government African School Kapsabet Nimepeleka huyo mtoto wangu sikuli yako apate mafundisho. Jina Jabez Hans s/o Elijah Location 9, Group Kapsabet Salamu sana kwako, tena ahasanta, Mimi ni Mtumishi mdogo wenu Elijah Chepkwony. |}

Translated (and corrected):

Kapsabet 3rd August 1932,

To Mr. Jones c/o Government African School Kapsabet I have sent my child to your school to get an education. Name: Jabez Hans s/o Elijah Location 9 Group Kapsabet Greetings to you, and thank you I am a servant (junior) to you Elijah Chepkwony.

This letter above typically represents the relationship between the African Chiefs and the Colonial Government. They embraced wholeheartedly the new structures and led by example by sending their children to school and this gave them the locus standi to mobilize their subjects to do the same. Jabez Hans who was born in 1923, was just 9 when he was sent to boarding school at the GAS. It must have been a daunting thing for the poor lad back in the day. He later dropped the name Jabez and elongated the ‘Hans’ to ‘Hansen’ – the Scandinavian name given to him by his father most probably in honour of the Swedish woman Ms. Hansen who was the missionary teacher at the AIM Mission in Kapsabet back in 1919 and was Chief Elijah’s first teacher.

Expanding the school

In 1934 the new DC Mr. K.L. Hunter who replaced Mr. Seldon, had a soft spot for the missionaries and had made suggestions that all outschools be converted into mission schools. He had strong reservations about running a non-secular format of schooling for the Nandi preferring instead that they first renounce their beliefs before being properly educated. This was going to be a direct threat on the survival of the GAS. However, on November 24, 1934 he was replaced by Capt. F. D. Hislop who was more pragmatic, he in fact put on hold the effort by Education officials to implement the plans of Mr. Hunter his predecessor preferring a secular approach as was before. If Hunter had had his way, the GAS might have been turned over to the missionaries. The GAS Kapsabet now had a new Principal Mr. G.M. Bell who took over from January 1, 1934 but his term was to end on July 28, when he went on leave. He was replaced by Mr. E. Jones who led to the end of the year. Mr. P.W. Low was assistant Master from September 16 to December 22. By now there were 130 pupils. The previous year (1933), a ‘bush’ school was started next to the GAS at Namgoi to be used as a training ground for teachers now being produced at the GAS. This is today Namgoi Primary School in Kapsabet lying between the GAS and the AIM mission. A portion of the GAS was hived off for this purpose and the end of that year enrollment had reached 42. Here, pupils would acquire an elementary education led by trainee students of the GAS. Namgoi was one out of only seven publicly run schools in the whole of Nandi the others being Kapkolei, Arwos, Kaiboi, Maraba and Serem. Each had only one teacher excepting Namgoi which now had more teachers thanks to the teacher training program at the adjacent GAS. At the GAS, in addition to the ordinary subjects, instruction was offered in Carpentry, Masonry, Tailoring, Painting, Smithing and Agriculture. Six pupils would go on to the NITD in Kabete, five to Baraton for training in Animal husbandry and one to Bukura for training as an Agricultural instructor. That year the school shamba was expanded and 40 acres was under cultivation of various crops that would be used to feed the pupils in the following year. On June 4, 1934, the school won the African Sports Shield at Eldoret and also the Victor Ludorum Prize.

Moi and Seroney join the GAS

In January 1938 Mr. W.J. Glanville became the Principal at the GAS. However at the end of that month Mr. Glanville was transferred to Narok and handed over to Mr. C.R.V. Bell. In May of that year, Jean-Marie Seroney known then as Eric s/o Reuben was admitted into the school to begin his intermediate studies. He was given the admission number 450 (he was the 450th pupil so far). Eric was admitted and checked into Kibiegen dormitory of Elementeita house. He was issued with a fez as was the tradition of the school and 2 blankets a towel and a mattress. He was also issued with 2 Khaki shirts and 2 Khaki shorts and one white shirt. The pupils did not have shoes. The school instruction block had been completed and stood imposing at the center of the school compound. Classes were conducted in the brick and mortar building which had been constructed by Mr. Roberts in 1930. This was nothing like the school at Kapsowar and besides living away from his parents, making new friends and living your own life. At this school one day, shortly after Seroney had entered the GAS, a new boy was admitted to join the school. The boy was tall and dark and of lean built. He learnt that the new-comer’s name was Daniel Toroitich (later arap Moi) from Kuriengwo village near Kabartonjo. He had walked the 100 miles south-west to the Kapsabet AIM Mission and from here, he joined his new school. It was Reuben that got the young Toroitich taking up an education back in Baringo and the missionaries there sent him to Kapsabet about the year 1934 where he was taught by the Brysons in the Mission school before now enrolling at the Government school in 1938. Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was given admission number 503 (53 places after Seroney). This was the commencement of a lifelong association. Seroney and Moi's teacher in 1938 in Standard 3 was a Mr. Kasumba from Machakos. He was one of several Kamba teachers who had come from Eastern province as early as 1933. The teacher for Standard 2 was a Mr. Kole arap Lagat who held a Lower Primary Teachers certificate just like Kasumba. The Standard Four teacher was Mr. Malakwen who had a similar qualification all three from Machakos Teachers College which was one of the earliest institutions to produce teachers for African schools. Standard five was taught by a Mr. Japhtha who had a Lower Primary Teacher’s certificate from Kaimosi while Mr. Kyalo was the other Kamba teacher who taught the highest class (Standard six).

Sideshows in the school

It is curious to note that Kapsabet had teachers who had come all the way from Eastern Province as early as then. They were however not without controversy as happened in 1935 when the District Commissioner Hislop arrested the brother of one of the teachers over allegations of witchcraft. The teacher, Mr. Francis Mulwa wa Nzau, had early that year written to the DC informing him that his brother and another man would be visiting him at the school where he taught. However, information reached the DC that Mr. wa Nzau’s brother Wambua s/o Nzau was doing brisk business with the Nandi selling witchcraft portions. Hislop had him arrested and charged in court with witchcraft offenses and given 2 months imprisonment under Section 293 of the then Penal Code dealing with witchcraft. Hislop then wrote to the Director of Education to have Mr. Francis wa Nzau transferred from Kapsabet School. It appears that by the time Seroney had joined the GAS, Mr. wa Nzau had been transferred. Teachers lived within the school along its western and southern periphery. These teachers were meant to give the pupils the education meant to serve the colonial interest of the day but more importantly to contemporize the Africans.

Life at the school

The food was different but not radically so. They were introduced to new foods that they had not ordinarily eaten at their homes, these included cabbages, kales (sukuma wiki), potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes, tea, sugar, bread, beans, maize, rice, ugali and the sort. Traditional Nandi diet had been fairly simple and consisted mainly of herbal vegetables, sorghum and millet-based foodstuffs, milk and meat, roots, tubers, honey and wild fruits. The new foods were well tolerated by the students. Discipline was strict and following frequent truancy, the Administration records of the school show frequent corporal punishment on the pupils. This was meticulously recorded in the student’s files. Records show that most of those who got into trouble were from Kapsisiywa area (then known as Location 26 - people who lived in this area were from the Talai clan who were dreaded by the Nandi for their super-natural powers). This Talai clan was whence the Orkoiyot Koitalel Somoei hailed from. These boys also had a high rate of abandonment because they refused corporal or other punishment or refused medical treatment- believing it would neuter their powers. However, some who stayed on become important members of society in later life. It is curious to note that they also stayed at ‘Talai’ dormitory which was so named for their pleasure or more likely - segregation.

The School Curriculum

The curriculum consisted of both academic and non-academic programs. Mr. Francis Biama taught Tailoring while Mr. Kimatwal taught Carpentry. A visit by the Chief Inspector of Schools on Thursday, July 23, 1936 observed that daily religious instruction that occupied the first lesson this he noted was not good for a Government-run school. He observed that of the 86 boys in the school, 20 attended religious instruction by an AIM instructor while 48 attended one organized by the Catholics while the rest of the boys did not follow either of the religious instruction. Fr. Kuhn of the Chepterit Catholic Mission came to Kapsabet every morning to teach in the Catholic lesson. Mr. Francis Biama had become a Catholic and was responsible for organizing with Fr. Kuhn for the daily instruction throughout the week. However, this was stopped when the Chief Inspector of Schools had visited in 1936. He recommended that the religious instruction be limited to Monday’s only and on the first lesson. Two years later when Seroney joined, this had been effected and there was much less emphasis on religion. Fr. Kuhn was later to be taken to detention for his German heritage in May 1940 during the War. Mr. C.R.V. Bell left the school on February 26, 1939 and Mr. F.C. Thompson took over. However he only stayed until September 4, 1939. Mr. H.R. Barton took over for just a day! In his place came a Mr. Langmead for only two days! After him Mr. A.G. Gilbert took over on Saturday, September 9, 1939 and completed the remainder of the year. The high staff turnover can be understood on the context of the commencing war in Europe. Many of them left to help in the war effort.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Apart from the academic courses they also learnt to play football and other games especially athletics and this made their learning experiences all-round. There was also the white shirt provided for Sunday chapel where an interdenominational service was held. Time schedules were strictly observed and all lessons done in newly completed colonnaded block with large Louvre windows served as the classrooms of the school. Tailoring and Carpentry had their own designated outbuildings. The pupils were expected to be in their neat khaki uniforms and fez hats for class – most Africans could not afford shoes and so they used the best option available, their bare feet. The imposing buildings added to the prestige of the school. It was nothing like the Mission schools which had very few buildings. The school Hall which had just been constructed a few years back with its high roof of corrugated sheeting and strong rafters was a focal point in the school. This is where assemblies were held and also the Sunday chapel. Even though it was a Government school, chapel on Sunday was mandatory. There were also dances, films and debates, drama and many other activities held in the school hall. At the GAS malaria was the main problem and 14.7 % of the school was brought down by the disease in 1938. The standard treatment for Malaria was quinine and the school dispensary had plenty of it. If however they would require admission, the Native Civil Hospital at Kapsabet was completed in April and officially commissioned to begin operations. Sub-Assistant Surgeon Mr. Anant Ram would be on hand to admit them in the NCH. Seroney underwent the mandatory medicals passing well and obtained a typhoid injection in July 1940 following an outbreak in Kapsabet.

Student Accomodation

At the GAS, accommodation was organized into ‘Houses’. Two dormitories formed a ‘House’ and named after the lakes of the Rift Valley in Kenya: Baringo, Nakuru, Elementeita, Naivasha. The dormitories were named after Nandi military formations, places, clans, clan totems and the like. Baringo House was divided into Sirgoi dormitory and Sogom dormitory; Elementeita House into Toiyoi and Kibiegen; Nakuru House into Kibois and Talai and Naivasha House into Moi and Kipkenda. In later years the fifth House was renamed in 1961 as Solai House which had two dormitories also renamed as Maiyo and Cheruiyot in memory of Nandi Chiefs Jonathan araap Maiyo and Elijah Cheruiyot araap Chepkwony who is the one who had made the suggestion that the school be founded. Both died in a road crash in the Rongai area of Nakuru (perhaps mistakenly believed to be Solai). Chief Chepkwony’s effort had led to the founding to the school and had even donated ancestral land to form part of the school. There were intramural contests held between Houses in the academics, sports and music. By the early 1940’s a portion of the school was converted to offer teacher training classes mostly for those who had completed their studies. Sogom and Sirgoi dorms were designated for this purpose and even their roofing was different to denote some measure of seniority. Otherwise the design was pretty much the same.

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