On 15th February 1965, a bunch of 100 young fellows trooped down to Machakos Boys High School from all corners of Kenya, but mainly Ukambani. They were aged 15 to 17 years and looked hungry, skinny, scared, but excited. Some carried their shoes instead of wearing them because the calling letter had asked them to bring shoes! In that group was Dr. Samuel W. Muindi, the late Hon. Senator Mutula Kilonzo, Advocate, Dr. Tom Kibua, Jimmy Kavilu, Fred Kiluva and yours truly, to mention but a few.
Within a year of our arrival the Form 2s led a strike which was quelled, but it forced out the white Headmaster who gave way to the legendary disciplinarian, Ishmael Omondi, in 1966. Then our lives and that of the entire school took a sharp upward trajectory to fame and excellence in academics and co-curricular activities.
Sam was at the centre of it all. I sat with him in the same classroom for four years and would have continued for another two years in “A level”, if he did not run away, fearing that Omondi would make him a School Captain, thus messing up his concentration in academics. The fear was real because Omondi had selected him as the only School Prefect from Form 4, while the others were from ‘A level’.
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In the majority of our terminal exams, Sam maintained the 1st position and pulled the rest of us to excellent performances. It is no surprise that in later years, he ended with a string of academic Degrees from several Universities around the world.
Sam’s strength did not lie in academics alone. He was a sportsman and an avid long distance runner. And again, it is no wonder that in 1968, when the school organised a 65km charity walk from Machakos to Nairobi to raise funds for the construction of a swimming pool, he did not walk but ran all the way and won.
The prize for the winner was a flight from Wilson Airport back to the school and its environs and he was flown back at 11am when the rest of us struggled to finish the walk late in the afternoon. To our dismay, the swimming pool was never constructed.
Fast forward to the year 2019 when a decision was made by a few alumni to revive the moribund Machakos School Old Boys Association. Sam was at the forefront. We soon had a vibrant Machakos School Alumni Association (MSAA) with a new Constitution and a Strategic Plan targeting two major projects, Swimming Pool and Environmental Conservation. From giving motivational talks to the students, purchasing uniforms for the school band, contributing generously for the Swimming pool project, regularly and promptly attending planning meetings, Sam was our inspiration.
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Woven into the steely academic giant was a gentle, generous, kind, compassionate, amiable and visionary soul. As his friends in Asmara 6, Class of 1968, MSAA Management Committee and MSAA Fundraising Committee, we have been enjoying this side of him and were looking forward to taking the first dive into the swimming pool when it is completed in a few months.
We all recall how enthusiastic he was at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Swimming pool construction on 28th June 2025, when he hung on the excavator as our guest of honour, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. operated the excavator.
That first dive was not meant to be for Sam. But we believe he is now in heaven and will intercede for us so that our plans for giving back to our alma mater are actualized.
May his soul rest in eternal peace. ADIOS AMIGO.
Tribute by Justice (rtd) Philip Waki – Chairman MSAA.
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