By Martin Ruto
When little-known Komol Primary School in West Pokot County emerged one of the best in the 2008 National Music Festivals in Nairobi, the feat was largely attributed to one man.
Thanks to Benjamin Seng’eng’e Simon the school, which is situated in a remote area of the country, defied all the odds to win many trophies and medals at the annual event.
But for those who are familiar with Seng’eng’e, who is also known as Benjamin Tukey, the achievement was not a complete surprise.
The teacher is an icon in the traditional music genre and his exploits in the schools’ music festival are well known.
An expert in folk songs and the traditional dance, Seng’enge is a respected figure in the teaching fraternity and the local community. He is also acclaimed for mentoring many in his trade.
And as he prepares to bow out of the teaching stage, he can only look back at his achievements in the past several decades with a lot of pride.
On February 12, a party will be at Tilak Primary School in Kapenguria to celebrate in achievements as he begins his retirement.
Born in 1960 at Psigirio village in Kapenguria, West Pokot County, Seng’eng’e started his education at Chepareria Mixed Primary School where he sat his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) examination in 1979.
Although he performed well in the test, he decided to reseat the exam at Kacheliba Primary School in 1981.
The excellent results in his second attempt secured him a place at Njoro Boys High school where he did his Kenya Certificate of Education (KCE) in 1985.
After high school, Seng’eng’e worked as an untrained teacher at Kamketo Primary School in Pokot North sub-county between 1987 and 1992.
He describes his first work station as one of the hardest areas to live in mainly because of the harsh weather conditions and rampant cattle rustling.
Despite the many difficulties, he did his best to ensure his charges acquired quality education.
One of his achievements while at the school, he recalls, was convincing more than 100 morans to abandon cattle rustling and embrace education.
Together with chiefs and other local leaders, the young teacher also confronted head on the sensitive issues of early marriages and Female Genital Mutilation, which are widely practiced in the area. His campaign against the two vices saw many girls pursue education.
Currently, Pokot North sub-county is one of the most advanced sections of West Pokot County with high literacy levels.
In 1992, Seng’eng’e joined Egoji Teachers Training College for a two-year course and graduated in 1994 with the Primary Teachers Education Certificate (PTEC).
Upon graduation, he was posted to Kalokol Primary School in Turkana County where taught until 2005.
It was while at this school, where he was the lead choir master, that his music skills began to flower.
After a decade in Turkana, he went back to his home county where he taught at Samor Primary School.
In 2008, Seng’eng’e was transferred to Komol Primary School in Chemwochoi Zone. The same year, he propelled the school to the National Music Festivals nationals where they scooped several awards and trophies.
For the past 12 years, he has been teaching at Tilak Primary School where he has played a major role in lower classes as well as a consultant in science, mathematics and social studies in upper primary.
Seng’eng’e is a proud father of 13, two of whom have followed in his footsteps in the teaching career. They are Christine Chepkemei and Beatrice Chanangat.
But even as he retires from teaching, the music will, no doubt, play on and the dance will not stop.
Sengenge leads the popular Sengekwo Women Cultural Dancers which performs in ceremonies and festivals.
