Kenyan school that used State House as a dormitory

State House, Nairobi [Photo: Courtesy]

State House is the official residence of the President of Kenya and is well-known for its lush green gardens and tight security. Records, however, indicate that the house on the hill was at some point used as a dormitory by Lenana School in 1949 when it was the residence of the British Colonial Governor.

Then known as Duke of York School, the school was reserved for white students only within the Kenya Colony. All teachers were also white and students were drawn from the sons of British settlers, most of whom were farmers in outlying areas.