Musingu: Where bright Boni Khalwale sneaked via panya routes

New students to Musingu High School had to learn the mshivo dancing style. The vocal ones joined Jombi the cheering squad that egged on the Scorpions soccer team playing against Green Commandos of arch-rivals Kakamega High.

Musingu alumni also remember long-serving music teacher, Matendechere or simply Mate and cook Ligale and others like Boni Khalwale, the Kakamega Senator, have fond memories of sneaking through a panya routes behind Harambee hostel towards achwaka joints in the hood.

Bright Boni - the only bare-footed student in the school and whose fee was paid using his mum’s chang’aa income’ as he later revealed - was athletics champ in the 5,000 metres from 1975 through to 1978 in this school in Ikolomani Constituency, 12 kilometres from Kakamega town along the Butere-Sigalagala Road.

Musingu began as a harambee school, with villagers contributing cash and land besides encouraging teachers to attend classes.

In fact, Kenya’s first vice president Jaramogi Oginga Odinga contributed a staggering Sh2,000 in a 1964 harambee to buy glass windows for early buildings of this academic giant named ‘Musingu,’ after a tree that still stands to date. 

Notable alumni who wore sky blue shirts, grey trousers and grey sweaters include; Mtetezi Dr Boni Khalwale, former Mt Elgon MP Fred Kapondi, Dr Ludeki Chweya, the Director General of Kenya School of Government, Kwisero MP Benjamin Andola; Butere MP Andrew Toboso and Kakamega High Principal, Oliver Minishi.

Others guided by the motto Nidhamu na Bidii include; ‘learned friends’ Edwin Sifuna (see page 26) and Elisha Ongoya, as well as The Standard journalists Tony Malesi, Luke Anami, The Nairobian’s Robert Amalemba,  Davis Ojiambo (Radio Jambo), Upper Savannah MCA, Benson Amutavi and soccer tactician Gilbert Selebwa.