By John Majau
Kaaga Girls High School alumni held a colorful ceremony to celebrate their former principal who had served the institution as school head for a record twenty years.
Before being promoted to school principal, Ms Gladys Gichoga had taught at the institution for 10 years.
Pomp, song, dance and color marked the occasion which were a culmination of speeches filled with nostalgia before gifting was done.
A caravan of motorcade snaked its way through Meru town to their former school where they briefly mentored girls before holding the party at a prestigious hotel in the outskirts of Meru town.
During the party, the alumni cut a cake and showered gifts to Ms. Gichoga.
The former school girls also narrated to each other stories of their old days in school with much nostalgia.
Gichoga was a teacher at Kaaga Girls from 1976 before serving as a principal from 1986 to 2006 when she retired.
“They were small girls when they were students. Now they have grown. Some are doctors, teachers and other professions,” said an overjoyed Gichoga.
She said it gives her joy to see girls she considered as young, irresponsible and under her authority transform themselves to responsible citizens with families and their own jobs.
She said she was overjoyed by the nostalgic moment and urged other schools to form alumni associations in order to help each other and to network.
She said the party came as a surprise to her because they came to her home and told her they wanted to thank her for being their principal.
“This event was arranged by the old girls. They bought me clothes, was driven in latest model of Mercedes Benz, was given hugs, treated like a queen and given nice food,” she said.
She urged the group to also help those who were unfortunate to get jobs.
Mercy Chidi who runs a lobby group in Meru called Ripples International and a former student said Ms Gichoga mentored her to get to where she is today.
“We are here today because every one of us has a story to tell about our former principal and our school,” Chidi said, adding that they wanted it to coincide with international women’s day but they could not because it was on a week day.
Chidi said Kaaga Girls had produced top brains of women in the country and abroad and most wanted to come but had to follow the event on social media pages.
Ann Kering who works in the insurance industry said Gichoga’s legacy will run for a long time.
Kering said they are looking for ways to impact on current Kaaga Girls students through mentorship, revealing that she was in the school between 1984 to 1989, the last A level group.
She said Gichoga was strict but allowed them to express themselves through talent.
“She was also very patient and also taught us how to be clean. That is why we are wearing white today to honor her,” Kering remarked.
Emily Mworia who works with EACC said that she was excited to witness the nostalgic occasion.
She said Gichoga taught them about integrity and that is why she works at the EACC.
Mworia also disclosed that the alumni pay fees for needy students.
Lucy Kaburia said Gichoga not only taught them academics but how to also navigate issues of life.
She said they will officially launch a mentorship programme for Kaaga Girls High School.
