Starehe Boys’ School was established in 1959 as a rescue centre for waifs displaced by the independence war and concurrent State of Emergency.
The Centre was started in a couple of tin huts donated by the Kenya Shell Oil Company from a decommissioned oil exploration field station.
Over the years, the school has nurtured students who have gone on to hold influential positions in politics, law, governance, and public service.
Several prominent Kenyans who have studied in Starehe High School include the Dr. Peter Ndegwa, Dr. Julius Kipng’etich, Hon. Kenneth Odhiambo Okoth, H.E. Mahmud Ali, EGH, Francis Kuria, and H.E. Ahmed Abdullahi
However, this has continued to leave a lasting imprint on the nation, reflecting the school’s commitment to leadership, discipline, and holistic development.
List of Prominent Kenyans Who Studied in Starehe Boys’ School
Below is a summary of the prominent Kenyans who have attended Starehe Boys’ High School.
Dr. Peter Ndegwa
He is an alumnus of Starehe Boys’ Centre of the class of 1986 and 1988.
He served as Associate Director and Senior Manager in the Corporate Finance and Strategy practice from April 2002 to December 2003, during which he worked in Nairobi and London.
From July 2008 to November 2011, Ndegwa held the roles of Group Finance Director and CFO.
For two years, he was EABL’s Sales Director, and for the other two years, a Group Strategy Director.
He led Guinness Nigeria from August 2015 to June 2018, but before this, he was the MD and CEO of Guinness Ghana Breweries.
Ndengwa was appointed in October 2019, officially assuming the role on April 1, 2020, and remains in that role today.
Also Read: Prominent Kenyans Who Studied at Maranda High School
Julius Kipng’etich
He joined the school in 1979 for his secondary education as Form One.
Julius taught management science at various universities, including Strathmore and USIU. He also served as the Director of the Student Welfare Authority (SWA) at the University of Nairobi from 1997 to 2000.
In 2004, Julius led the agency (now KenInvest) before transitioning to wildlife conservation.
From 2012 to 2015, he joined Equity after his tenure at KWS, where he oversaw regional operations.
Julius has served as the regional leader of this prominent financial services group since June 2018.
He is also the chairman of The Standard Group PLC.
Mahmud Ali
He completed his secondary education here as part of the Class of 1991.
From 1993 to 1997, Ali earned a Bachelor of Arts in Building Economics and Management.
Ali served as a Quantity Surveyor for the government, under the Ministry of Public Works, for 4 years.
From 2008 to 2013, Ali was first elected to the National Assembly in the 2007 general election as a Member of Parliament, Moyale Constituency
He served as an Assistant Minister in the ministries of Planning, Finance, and Cooperative Development during his parliamentary tenure.
Mahmud Ali is the Governor of Marsabit County.
Also Read: Starehe Boys Selects 410 Grade 10 Students, Informs Parents on Way Forward
Francis Kuria
He is a former student of Starehe, a member of the Class of 1983/1985.
He currently serves as the Secretary General of the African Council of Religious Leaders (ACRL-RfP) and the Executive Director of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), a position he has held since 2008.
Kuria is a key figure in high-level faith forums across Africa, notably mediating peace initiatives in regions like the Sahel and Japan.
Ahmed Abdullahi
He attended Jogbaru Primary School in Wajir and then joined Starehe Boys’ Centre as a member of the class of 1991.
He later earned a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting from the University of Nairobi and an MBA from Strathmore University.
Ahmed currently serves as the Governor of Wajir County and the Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG).
Kenneth Odhiambo Okoth
He joined Starehe in 1992.
Despite missing out on the opportunity to study law in Kenya due to a lack of funds, Kenneth worked as a night guard and newspaper deliverer to survive and eventually won a scholarship to St. Lawrence University (USA), where he later earned a master’s from Georgetown University.
From 2013 to 2019, he served as the Member of Parliament for Kibra.
In 2006, Kenneth founded the Children of Kibera Foundation before entering politics.
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