October 23, 2019
The centennial celebration of any institution is a time marked by festivities to look back at the great yesteryear and look ahead to what the next century holds. It is however a grim picture for one of the oldest primary schools in Nyanza: Kisumu Union Primary School.
Formerly known as Komulo Primary School, Kisumu Union was started in 1919. It got the name “Union” because African children were united in seeking education there and it only admitted elite African children in Western Kenya.
The school, which can easily make a cut for a grace-to-grass story, sits on 10 acres on the southeastern side of Kisumu’s central business district. It features dilapidated structures, an opposite representation of the institution at its establishment.
In an impromptu visit to Kisumu Union, we saw a defaced gate, a waist-length bushy compound and pre-colonial classrooms with broken windowpanes or none, badly calling for renovation.
Kisumu’s public health department nearly closed the institution earlier this year because of clogged toilets caused by structures sitting on sewer lines serving it.
This put a spotlight on the school, which in its glory days had pupils such as Raila Odinga and his brother Oburu Oginga, who letter became Prime Minister and Member of Parliament, respectively. Other alumni include Dorothy Nyong’o, wife of Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, and Kisumu City Manager Doris Ombara
The near-shutdown was an awakening call to Kisumu Union alumni.
Following appalling reports by the Nation and incessant calls by head teacher Stephen Mbada, alumni have initiated projects that they hope will turn around the fortunes of the institution, whose academic performance has been on a downward trend in recent times, a stark difference from its prime.
Broken windows at Kisumu Union Primary School. ONDARI OGEGA | NATION
Pupils outside the boys’ toilets. ONDARI OGEGA | NATION
A toilet building that public health officials closed in June 2019. ONDARI OGEGA | NATION
A classroom at Kisumu Union Primary School. ONDARI OGENA | NATION
Formed in April, the Kisumu Union Alumni Association has organised celebrations to mark the school’s 100th anniversary and launch the association, something that its chairperson, Silas Odhiambo, said was long overdue.
“We were very sorry that the school was deteriorating from the physical infrastructure to academic performance and the current mean score shows that we are doomed if the school is not uplifted,” said Mr Odhiambo.
The alumni have come up with a strategic plan to guide the institution in priority areas to be addressed in the next 10 years, he said.
Mr Odhiambo, who studied at Kisumu Union from 1978 to 1981, said they have also approached well-wishers, who have put up an early childhood development block and a temporary kitchen.
Through the strategic plan, they have also planned to mobilise former pupils to help in fundraising initiatives for support, Mr Odhiambo said. Some alumni have started working on ablution blocks, he said.
The school has 17 teaching staff, three non-teaching staff and about 500 pupils, Stephen Mbanda, the head teacher, said.
It is now being renovated ahead of the centenary celebrations through painting, ablution improvement and establishment of an innovative centre.