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Despite being a relatively new school, St Francis Kimuron High School in Elgeyo Marakwet is a giant in extra-curricular activities since it opened as a boys-only school in 1985. The school, nestled deep inside Elgeyo Forest, about 11km from Iten town, has churned some of the world’s finest athletes from Kenya, some of whom have shattered world records.
It was referred to as Kimuron Secondary School, until last year when it adopted its current name from its sponsor, the Catholic church. The school is surrounded by a forest on all sides, and being 4km off the main Iten-Kapsowar road, meant students had no choice but buy bread at exorbitant prices.
Almost all ex-students of ‘Kimush’ from early 2000 have fond memories of kangumus (hard buns) they devoured each morning for breakfast. The much-cherished kangumus were sneaked in by enterprising students who sold them for Sh10 a piece - double the prevailing market price.
Prominent alumni of Kimush who were guided by the motto, ‘For Perfection We Strive,’ include David Rudisha, the Olympic champion and world 800m record holder. Rudisha reportedly enjoyed ‘smuggled’ kangumus, which he washed down with tea that was specifically given to athletes by the school.
After Rudisha cleared his Form Four in 2007, a programme that made it compulsory for new students to participate in athletics was introduced. All Form One students joining the school take part in a road race everyday early in the morning for one full term. Those who stand out in the over 12km dawn run through the dreaded Orkoit Valley are absorbed in a comprehensive athletics training programme, where they are nurtured, according to school principal Edwin Kosgey.
Other notable alumni who wore sky blue shirts, grey trousers and blue ties with white strips are Lucas Rotich and Daniel Selel, both World Youth Championships silver medalists. Others are journalist Kibiwott Koross, long distance runner Luke Kipkosgei and Sony Sugar striker Vincent Imbusi.
