Mang’u High School traces its roots back to 1925, when it was established at Kabaa by Dutch priest Michael Joseph Witte, a member of the Holy Ghost Fathers.
The journey began on July 2, 1913, when the first priest arrived in Kabaa to establish a mission on a 5-acre plot of land.
However, the mission was abandoned in 1920 due to a lack of converts. By that time, another Catholic mission had been established at Kilungu, where Michael Witte was running a Central School for Catechists by 1923.
Plans were made to expand the school into a Central Training School for Catechists. Witte and his superior at Kilungu, Fr. Horber, decided Kilungu was not suitable for the expansion.
They considered Mang’u, Riruta, and Kabaa as possible locations, with Witte favouring Kabaa. The bishop approved the choice.
Over the years, Mang’u has produced notable graduates who have risen to prominence in society, politics, education, and business, including the Former President Mwai Kibaki, George Muhoho, John Michuki, Tom Mboya, Cyrus Jirongo, and Former Kamukunji MP George Thenge.
List of Prominent Kenyans Who Studied at Mang’u High School
Mang’u High School has produced some of Kenya’s most influential and accomplished individuals across politics, business, sports, and public service.
Below are some of the prominent Kenyans who attended Mang’u High School and later rose to distinction in their respective fields.
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki attended Mang’u High School between 1947 and 1950.
He scored a maximum possible 6 points in the Cambridge School Certificate examination and received a scholarship to study at a university of his choice in the UK.
Kibaki chose the prestigious London School of Economics, which had distinguished itself as a centre of excellence.
From 1969 to 1982, Kibaki served as Minister for Finance under Jomo Kenyatta, then Vice President from 1978 to 1988 under Daniel arap Moi.
In 1991, Kibaki resigned from KANU to form the Democratic Party (DP), where he contested the presidency in 1992 and 1997, becoming the Leader of the Official Opposition in 1998.
He led the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) to a landslide victory in 2002, ending 24 years of Moi’s rule, and was re-elected in 2007 for a second term amidst controversy.
He served as the third president of Kenya.
Also Read: 4 Prominent Kenyans Who Studied at Lenana School
Tom Mboya
He joined Mang’u in 1946.
After attaining his Cambridge School Certificate, he later went to the Royal Sanitary Institute’s Medical Training School.
Tom Mboya is known for being a principled leader who agitated for the country’s independence.
He is remembered for championing Kenyans’ rights and advocating for equal opportunities. Mboya was a Pan-Africanist who stood out from the pack.
George Thenge
George attended Mang’u in the late 1940s.
He was a classmate of future President Mwai Kibaki and labor leader Tom Mboya.
George is famously remembered for an incident in 1948, when, as a Form Two student, he protected younger students, including Mwai Kibaki, from the prevalent school bullying of the era.
From 1992 to 1997, he served as the Member of Parliament for the Kamukunji Constituency, elected on a FORD-Asili ticket.
George was one of the authors of Kenya’s first constitution and was among the last surviving members of the Lancaster House Conference, which negotiated Kenya’s independence in London.
Before serving Kamukunji, he represented Iveti South (now Machakos Town) in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, and was a member of the pre-independence Legislative Council (LegCo) for Machakos District in 1960.
George Nthenge passed away on August 10, 2021, at the age of 94 due to COVID-19-related complications.
John Michuki
John Michuki joined Mang’u High School in 1947 for his Advanced Level (A-Level) education.
He served as the school captain during his time at Mang’u.
Also Read: Notable Kenyans Who Studied at Maseno School
In 2004, Michuki brought order to Kenya’s chaotic public transport (matatu) sector and mandated the installation of speed governors (limited to 80 km/h) and safety belts in all public service vehicles (PSVs).
He also required drivers and conductors to wear uniforms, display identification badges, and follow clearly defined routes.
George Muhoho
George Muhoho attended Mang’u High School in the mid-to-late 1950s.
Under President Mwai Kibaki, he served as the Director General of the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) from 2004 to 2009, overseeing major safety and development projects at Kenyan airports.
He was a founding member and treasurer of the Democratic Party (DP) alongside Mwai Kibaki.
Mang’u honors him with two dormitories named Muhoho 1 and Muhoho 2.
Cyrus Jirongo
He attended Mang’u High School between 1978 and 1981.
Jirongo served as the Member of Parliament for Lugari Constituency for 10 years and as the Minister for Rural Development in 2002.
In 1991, he served as the chairman of AFC Leopards Football Club.
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