The home of academic excellence

Jomo Kenyatta and Sir Charles Njonjo are some of the many high profile personalities who went to Alliance High School, a prestigious and historic school, writes ALLAN OLINGO.

The Alliance High School was founded on March 1, 1926 by the Alliance of Protestant churches, which included the Church of Scotland Mission later known as the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA). The first name on the first student roll was that of James Muigai Johnstone, Jomo Kenyatta’s brother, who paid a fee of Sh42.

The school was officially opened on October 1, 1926 at a ceremony attended by the then colonial governor, Sir Edward Grigg, who became the school’s first patron.

Basic courses

On March 20, 1926, 20 students turned up to register. The school then had only one teacher, George Andrew Grieve, who together with his wife, taught everything from basic teaching courses to mending water pipes. With time, the school expanded and in addition, a secondary course, clerical course and teachers training were introduced.

In 1927, more teachers joined, among them JS Smith and Leonard Beecher who later became the archbishop of PCEA. Some of the old boys came back to teach at the school among them Eliud Mathu, James Gichuru, and Festo Olang.

Most notable alumni of Alliance High School included Mbiyu Koinange (who later became the first Kenyan African to hold a degree, and Minister for Foreign Affairs), Obadiah Kariuki (first African assistant bishop at the Anglican Church of Kenya), Robert Matano (served as a Cabinet minister in the Kenyatta and Moi governments).

Fourteen years later, and after devoted service to the school, George Arthur Grieve retired. His place was taken by Carey Francis who headed the school for a record 23 years. During his tenure, the school expanded into a two-stream secondary school and the school certificate exams was taken after four years. In Francis’ last two years at the helm, the students were able to take the higher learning certificate course.

Additional blocks

In 1963, during independence, L Campbell took over as the head of the school. During his time, the student population doubled from 270 to 550. He had previously worked for four years as a teacher in Alliance before he became headmaster. He served as headmaster for seven and a half years.

In 1967, the board of governors expanded the school facilities because of pressure. Form Five and Six were restricted to 90 students. A massive drive was launched both within and outside the country to raise funds for the construction of additional blocks.

The Central Agency in West Germany, the Government of Netherlands, the Ford Foundation, Sir Malin, Lady Sorsbie and the Kenyan Government through the efforts of the then President Jomo Kenyatta helped raise Sh320,000. It was then the largest amount ever raised by harambee effort in Kenya.

School Chapel

Richard Hughes was contracted as the architect to draw the designs for the construction. In 1937, Hughes, who was educated in Kenya and South Africa, immigrated with his parents to Kenya. He had studied at the Architectural Association School, London, between 1947 and 1953.

His other projects included family houses, hospitals and the Alliance Girls’ High School Chapel and other buildings, which were produced on Spartan budgets and noteworthy for their pared-down, functional design and use of local materials.

Alliance has grown to become a highly reputable institution for its rich history, the quality of its education and its aconsistent levels of academic excellence over a period of over 80 years.

It has since then been ranked within the top ten best schools in each national examinations. From 1960 to 1985, it was ranked first in the country. In 1986, it lost its top ranking for the first time in 25 years, slipping to third position. The school has become an academic powerhouse and every parent and primary child’s dream high school.