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Friends School Bokoli in Bungoma County was founded in 1967 as a community school. But It was not until three years later that the school fell in the hands of the government.
Life for students at ‘Boka’ boarding was about sharing life’s goals, kamakhalange (fermented maize flour for Busaa) and kangumu. A few others shared mandazi, sugar and mobile phones (for recent alumni).
Mid-term breaks and closing days were accompanied by thrilling adieus from the principal who told them, “When you get home, say hi to your parents on my behalf”.
Besides enduring brown water, Bokolians relished ugali with occasional meat, and porridge from Lazaro the cook in the dining hall, where boys rarely joked with food.
Notable alumni include current IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati who later proceeded to St Peter’s Mumias and Lenana High School. Others are former Bumula MP Bifwoli Wakoli, UNCTAD Secretary-General and former Trade Minister Dr Mukhisa Kituyi who later proceeded to St Mary’s Yala High School.
Others guided by the motto ‘Focused and Ready for Excellence’ include Edward Wasike, Mt Kenya University lecturer, Leonard Wakoli, ICT Director at Bungoma County, Moses Munialo, Principal Fisheries Officer, Fisheries Development Ministry and lawyer Soita Khakasa.
Those who retired in Kenyatta, Mandela, Tom Mboya, Muliro and Kofi Annan houses are Dickson Muruguru, senior accountant at the Treasury, Pastor George Wekesa of Kiserian Christian Centre and Samuel Masake, a US Air Force technician.
Others who wore black cardigans, trousers and white shirts are Martin Wanjala, a lecturer at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Collins Sigar, wildlife and tourism officer at Giraffe Centre, Geoffrey Wanjala, World Vision project officer, aeronautical engineer Abiud Sakong, Geohydro water works and civil construction project manager Luca Simiyu, Stephen Situma, a scientist at the National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation, and Toivo International team leader Fredrick Nyongesa.
