President Uhuru Kenyatta assures Starehe Centre of State support

President Uhuru Kenyatta has assured the Starehe Boys’ Centre of continued support from the Government. The President, accompanied by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, made the pledge yesterday when he presided over the 56th anniversary celebrations of the Starehe Boys’ Centre and School’s Founders’ Day. Former President Mwai Kibaki, who has been the patron of the institution for the last 46 years, attended. President Kenyatta said Starehe has distinguished itself in the service it has offered to the country during the 56 years it has existed.

“We will see how to increase the support we give to this institution,” said the President. He urged the school management to ask for support from him and  Nairobi Governor Dr Evans Kidero when faced with challenges. He thanked the retired president for being steadfast in his support for Starehe. Kibaki commended President Kenyatta for the progress the country has achieved.

“I have to thank the President. He is doing great work for Kenya wholeheartedly,” he said. But he denounced Opposition leaders for their “incessant condemnation of the ruling coalition”.

Presidet Uhuru chats with Starehe Boys students. He says the centre can count on continued Government support. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

Kibaki warned that constant criticism by the Opposition could work against the development of the nation. And urged the President to ignore negative criticism and focus of delivering his pledges.

“These people don’t like wishing people who do good well. You might think they are many but they are very few. They are not mentioned by anybody and you will not see them where good things are done, like this function,” he added.

Other old pupils from Starehe present included former presidential candidate Peter Kenneth and his running mate Ronnie Osumba and former Kenya Wildlife Service Director Julius Kipng’etich.

The retired president said Starehe has benefited from support from successive governments, and requested Kenyatta to increase the State’s assistance to the institution. He asked more corporate organisations to support Starehe.

Education Cabinet Secretary Jacob Kaimenyi, Kidero, Wajir Governor Ahmed Abdullahi, Starehe MP Maina Kamanda and officials of the school and its sponsors also spoke at the function. The day is celebrated to mark the school’s achievements and acknowledges the three men who struggled to establish the school before independence. The school was founded by Dr Geoffrey Griffin, Geoffrey Gatama Getumo and Joseph Kamiru in 1959.