CJ Koome honours Starehe Girls founders on 18th anniversary

Chief Justice Martha Koome on Saturday graced the 18th anniversary celebration of the Starehe Girls’ Centre, Nairobi.

The Founders Day event was attended by various dignitaries including founders of the institution.

Koome honoured the founding trustees of the school and added that the institution's journey was far from over.

"As we commemorate Founders’ Day today, let us remember that the journey is far from over. The centre’s motto, ‘Elimu Yetu, Nguvu Yetu’, is a clarion call for all of us. Education is not just a right, it's a powerful tool of social transformation," she said. 

Some of the founders of the school include the late co-founder and Director of the Starehe Boys' Centre William Griffin, Eunice Mathu, Manu Chandaria, Honorine Kiplagat, Margery Kabuya and Eddah Gachukia.

While remembering the late Griffin, the CJ commemorated him as a visionary and tireless advocate for education.

She lauded him for foreseeing a world where young, economically disadvantaged girls could rise above their circumstances and be given the same opportunities as their male counterparts.

"The ethos of the ‘Starehe Way’ is not just a doctrine but a way of life that these girls embody - a way of life that emphasises character, integrity, responsibility, and service to society," Koome said.

"Let us remember that the Starehe Girls' Centre stands as a beacon of hope and transformation, but it shines brighter with your support. Let us ensure that every girl, irrespective of her background, has the chance to shine, to dream, and to make those dreams a reality."

Koome urged the the current board of trustees to elevate and uphold the dream of the centre’s founders and continue the legacy of change.

"Your support will serve not just this generation, but countless future generations," she said.

The current board of trustees include the Board Chair Eunice Mathu and members Margery Kabuya, Manu Chandaria, Julius Kipng'etich, Grace Madoka, Salome Gitoho, Laban Molonko, Caroline Kagendo, Sharon Holi and Josphat Mwaura.

The Centre's campus sits on a 55-acre piece of land in Njathaini, a serene setting in Roysambu Constituency.

Griffin started the institution in the 90s to compliment the successful Starehe Boys' Centre.

In 2004, it was registered as a charitable institution catering for bright and economically disadvantaged girls throughout the country, following the ethos of the boys' school that advances the doctrine of "The Starehe Way."

The Centre equips girls not only with an education but also the necessary life skills to enable them realise their full potential and elevate them to compete in all spheres of life.

So far, it has 800 girls from all the 47 counties in the country.

A total of 1,647 students have graduated from the institution since its inception.