There was joy and fanfare in Embu when a group of women who left school 49 years ago at Nguviu Girls' Secondary School reunited for the first time with their former headmistress.
The women were the 1977 Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) pioneer class at the school.
They feted their former headmistress, Rafaili Njagi, at a colourful event held at a hotel in Embu town.
Njagi, 82, was also the founder of the school. She retired in 2002 after serving as the school head for 32 years since 1970.
The women have been meeting occasionally to reconnect. They managed to trace one another from different parts of the country using social media.
However, three of their colleagues out of a class of 38 have died, with the remaining devoted to their annual get-together party that started in 2019.
This year, they decided to incorporate their headmistress, whom most of them have never met since they left school.
The alumnae heaped praises on their former head teacher for the role she played in moulding them to be successful and respectable women in different spheres of life through her mentorship, guidance and discipline.
Former head girl Phyllis Muthoni said it was the lessons drawn from her stewardship and advice that have shaped their lives to date.
She said her lastborn daughter, who is also an alumni of the school, was also lucky to find the headmistress at the school up until she was in Form 2.
Another alumnus, Grace Ndugu, said it was a thrilling moment to reconnect with their former headmistress and mentor close to half a century later.
“We even did not know what we were expecting during our meeting, but we are very excited to find the same beautiful and elegant woman,” Ndugu said.
Beatrice Mwaniki, another alumnus, had fond memories of Mrs Njagi, whom she said played a big role in her marital life.
“This lady was my destiny connector,” she said.
“After I completed my Form 6 in Kyeni Girls' School, she came home and took me to Nguviu to teach, and there I met the man of my life in the same school.”
She said Njagi was also the one who took her to hospital to give birth to her firstborn.
Njagi said it was a momentous event she will cherish for life, saying it was a great honour they had bestowed on her as teachers are normally not envied by their students.
“It was one of the most wonderful encounters in my life to have students inviting me after 47 years,” she said.
“I felt they have taken me in a special way and I bless them.”
Amid laughter, she said she was everything to the girls: a mother, driver, teacher, secretary, matron, cateress and doctor.
The women said they will, going forward, organise meetings with students at their former school to mentor them through the professionalism and experience they have amassed over the years.