The Lenana School (formerly Duke of York School) is a premier national boys’ secondary school located in Nairobi County.
The school’s origins date back to 1949 when it was founded by colonial governor Philip Euen Mitchell.
After its completion, the Beecher Report on African education was published, recommending, among other things, that higher education was unnecessary for Africans and that education should remain racially segregated.
In addition, the first students were briefly housed at the then-British colonial governor’s house, now State House, Nairobi, while waiting for the school’s completion. The founding principal was R. H. James.
After Kenya gained independence in 1963, a few Asian and African students were admitted to the school.
Lenana School boasts a distinguished alumni list, including Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja, Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir, and the late former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Wafula Chebukati.
Prominent Kenyans who studied at Lenana School
The Nairobi School has produced some of Kenya’s most influential and accomplished individuals across politics, business, sports, and public service.
Also Read: Prominent Kenyans Who Studied at Starehe Boys’ High School
The following are notable Kenyans who studied at Lenana School.
Kithure Kindiki
He attended Lenana from 1988 to 1991.
During his time at Lenana, he scored a Grade C in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
To improve his results and qualify for university, he later repeated his final year at Tharaka Boys High School.
Kithure holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Moi University, followed by a master’s degree in international human Rights Law and Democracy and a PhD in International Law, both obtained from the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Between 2000 and 2003, he was a lecturer of law at Moi University, and between 2003 and 2005, he served at the University of Nairobi (UoN) in the same capacity.
In 2005, he was promoted to the head of the department of public law and later became the associate dean of the school at UoN.
On November 1, 2024, Kindiki became the deputy president of Kenya.
Johnson Sakaja
He attended Lenana School in 1999.
After his high school education, Sakaja earned a scholarship to Harvard University but chose to study Actuarial Science at the University of Nairobi because his parents could not afford his travel and tuition.
While at UoN, Sakaja became chairman of the student organization (SONU).
He has served as a Member of Parliament in the 11th Parliament and as the Chairperson of the Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.
In the 2022 general election, he sided with President William Ruto, the leader of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
He vied for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat and won against Polycarp Igathe of the Jubilee Party.
Also Read: Meet the Powerful Kenyan Women Educated at Alliance Girls’ High School
Wafula Chebukati
He joined Lenana School in 1979 for his A-Level studies.
Chebukati excelled in the arts, winning the overall arts prize in 1980.
Due to his high academic achievement, he was awarded a one-year scholarship at the institution.
In 1981, he attended the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B) in 1985.
Wafula Chebukati was formally appointed and sworn in as the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)
He succeeded Ahmed Issack Hassan and served a full six-year constitutional term that concluded on January 17, 2023.
Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir
He joined Lenana School in 1989 for his secondary education and completed it in 1992.
Nassir holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Inoorero University.
In 2022, he was elected as the Governor of Mombasa.
Nassir is also a prominent leader within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and join our WhatsApp Group for real-time news updates.
