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Bahari Girls: Where Aisha Jumwa enjoyed Taarab song and dance

By Mike Kihaki | 2022-10-18T00:00:00+03:00 | 2 min read

Jumwa is the nominated Cabinet Secretary, Public Service, Affirmative action and Gender.

Bahari Girls High School in Kilifi County was established in 1990 along Kilifi-Mombasa Road in Kilifi South constituency as a one-streamed harambee day school. Dr Timothy Mtana Lewa, the School Patron sought assistance from various friends in order to establish the school. These included Christopher Wilson, the proprietor of Kilifi Plantations who donated 30 acres and the Danish Embassy, which put up the administration block, library, kitchen, dining hall and a dormitory.

The Australian Embassy helped in putting up the first four classrooms. It also provided school uniform material and sewing machines enabling the school register a second stream. For many years, students nicknamed the school 'Baa Girls." The girls competed with Moi girls Kadzonzo for the love and affection of Malindi Boys. The school bus, christened Bazu, came in handy during music festivals with the school's Taarabu choir making it to the nationals.

Most memorable teachers include Mwalimu Makupe who teaches Kiswahili. He inspires students with the way he uses drama in his teachings that enables students to understand the subject well.

Kiswahili day

Worst punishment was to go round the school's plantation reading and reciting the tags on the trees. The school has set Thursday as a Kiswahili day where all students are required to communicate purely in the language. With the elevation of the school to national status in 2014, enrolment has grown from the 80 students in 1990 to over 1,000. The school's principal is Priscah Mgute.

Notable alumni who wore brown skirts and sweaters with white blouses before the uniform was changed to dark grey skirts, light grey sweaters on white blouses reciting school motto, 'Elimu Ni Urithi', include Aisha Jumwa, nominated Cabinet Secretary, Public Service, Affirmative action and Gender. She headed various students clubs and societies the Taarabu school choir to the music festival.

Others who enjoyed rice served with beef on Wednesdays for supper served by Mwandawiro include Lucia Musau, CEO, African Elite Group Ltd, Simaloi Dajom, Head of Media Strategy, Switch TV, Mary Munga, Teacher, Grace Maina, CEO, Keilah Closet, Nadya Wariara, Travel Consultant at Vasacs Enterprises, Margaret Mwakisha, Majaoni Secondary School, Agnes Chizi, Deputy Commercial Manager at Spedag Interfreight Kenya Limited, Magdalene Nyale, Systems Software Engineer at TransAtlantic Trading Company, Mwanamkuu Mohammed, United Arab Emirates, Linah Omotto, Business Analyst at Due Diligence Advisory Africa, Mwanampate Badesa, Radio Reporter, Farida Saku, Financial Advisor, Jubilee Insurance and Esther Pola; Office Clerk, REA Vipingo.