Starehe Boys Centre Details
Starehe Boys Centre and School (popularly known as “Starehe”) is a partial – board, boys-only school in Nairobi Kenya.The centre started as a rescue centre.
Starehe Boys’ Centre was the result of the vision of Geoffrey William Griffin, assisted by Joseph Gikubu, and Geoffrey Geturo. Its genesis was the earlier State of Emergency declared by the Governor of Colonial Kenya during the 1952 Mau Mau Uprising and the resultant overflow on to the streets of poor and destitute Mau Mau orphans.
The first 17 boys entered the school from Kariokor Rescue Centre, Nairobi, and it was established in two tin huts donated by Kenya Shell and BP in 1959. After a few months, it moved to its current location at Starehe, Nairobi.
The name “Starehe” is Swahili for ‘Tranquility’, ‘Peace’, or ‘Comfort’, signifying a place where orphaned boys could find solace in its humble beginnings. It is also the name of the place in which the institution is situated. The school is a member of the international Round Square school organisation, offering education to children from diverse backgrounds, many of whom are poor.
Starehe Boys’ Centre and School educate at least 70% of its students free, and the rest at a reduced rate. This stems from its founding charter as a charitable school. School fees are paid on a means-tested basis, with substantial subsidies paid by the school, so that students from all walks of life are able to have a public school education that would otherwise be beyond their means.
The entrance process uses results from the national KCPE exams and prefers to award school places to those who show academic potential. The school is governed by a Managing Committee chaired by Jimmy Mugerwa, Country Chairman of Kenya Shell and BP, the school’s main sponsors since its inception.
Admission of students is by open competitive examination. Each year about 20,000 applications are received; only 210 are selected to join the student body and about 6 places are left for very needy situations where the applicant might not have found a chance to apply but is still merited. Candidates are judged according to need and parental income and their performance in the national KCPE examinations. Selection is solely on merit.
Mission
Starehe as a centre for bright needy boys aims at offering homely support and a holistic education founded on strong principles of discipline, character formation and leadership development.
Vision
To be a global centre of excellence in youth development, effectively providing leadership and academic skills geared towards the promotion of a just and caring society that is founded on high moral standards.
Core Values
In line with the ideals of Round Square Schools of which Starehe is a member, our core values are;
- Internationalism
- Democracy
- Environment
- Adventure
- Leadership
- Service.
These values are practised through the broad curriculum and co curricular activities offered in the centre by all students and staff.
- Starehe Boys Center
School Admission
Admission of students is by open competitive examination. Each year about 20,000 applications are received; only 250 are selected to join the student body and about 6 places are left for very needy situations where the applicant might not have found a chance to apply but is still merited.
Candidates are judged according to need and parental income and their performance in the national KCPE examinations. Selection is solely on merit.
Notable Alumni
- Raphael Tuju– Former Minister of Foreign Affairs
- Peter Kenneth– Assistant Minister in the Ministry of State for planning, National Development and Vision 2030 and former Mp for Gatanga Constituency. Currently a presidential candidate in Kenya’s 2013 election
- Paul Ereng– Olympic Gold Medallist- 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics
- Kinuthia Murugu- Perr Specialist with the International Fund for Agricultural Development of the United Nations.
Starehe Boys Centre Contacts
School Code No: 20400004
Type of School: Boys Boarding
County: Nairobi County
Physical Address: Get the directions
Postal Address: P.O Box 30178 -00100
School Description: National School
Starehe Boys Centre Website
Website http://www.stareheboyscentre.ac.ke/
Starehe Boys Centre Highlights
Music: Yes
Drama Club: Yes
Debate Club: Yes
Sports Team: Yes
Boys Scouts: Yes
Students Association: Yes
Starehe Boys Centre Facilities
School Library: Yes
Swimming Pool: Yes
Sports Field: Yes
Computer Lab: Yes
Science Laboratory: Yes