Lenana School

Lenana School is a Secondary School in Nairobi, Kenya. It was formed in 1949 by colonial governor Philip Euen Mitchell, known then as the Duke of York School,[2] named after a British World War II King George V-class battleship (1939).[3] The actual bell from HMS Duke of York can still be seen mounted on a bell-shed at the front school parade ground between the school chapel and the hall. The first students were briefly housed at the then British colonial Governor's House which is the current State House[4][5] as they waited for the school's completion. The founding principal/headmaster was R. H. James.

Lenana School
Location
Nairobi

Kenya
Coordinates1° 18' 0.957" S, 36° 43' 41.775" E [1]
Information
TypeNational, Public
MottoNihil Praeter Optimum (Nothing But The Best)
Established1949
Head teacherMr. William Kemei
Number of students1750
CampusKaren, Nairobi
Color(s)Maroon, Grey and White
Alumni nameThe Laibon Society


The school was renamed Lenana School in 1969 after the central person in the interaction of the Maasai with invading British imperialists and spiritual leader of the Maasai, Laibon[6] Lenana,[7][8] around the end of the 19th century through to the early 20th century. The first Kenyan headmaster (principal) of the school was Mr. James Kamunge. The referral to old students of the school changed from the phrase Old Yorkist to Laibons the latter being a title given to religious figures of the Maasai. A picture of Lenana painted by a student artist called Sam Madoka can be seen hanging next to the steps that lead to the 2nd floor of the administration block.

Lenana School currently has 1200 students. In 2006, it was ranked 26th best high school in Kenya based on Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education results.[9] Through the 1980s and into the 21st century, Lenana High School has maintained high academic standards ranking in the top 10 and top 20 respectively for many years in the 1980s. The current School Principal is Mr. William Kemei.[10]

School emblem

The white rose of York[11] (also called the Rose alba or rose argent[12]) which is the symbol of the House of York.[11] It also conjoins with the red rose to form the Tudor Rose.[13]

School motto
  • Nihil Praeter Optimum, Latin for "Nothing But The Best".

Academics
Illustration showing the basic student school blazer on the left and Silver Lined Blazer with the 3 colours required to attain a silver lining on the right.

Lenana School is categorised as a National school, meaning it recruits students from all over the country who do well in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education[14] (K.C.P.E) examination. Its nationwide recruitment objectives means that each entering class of fresh students is large and extremely diverse having representatives from all over the country. The classes offered run the full gamut of sciences and arts as well as life skills classes for the students thus inclined. The curriculum might be considered heavy on the sciences but equal attention is paid to providing the students with extensive humanities classes ensuring that all benefit from a well-rounded experience and maximum opportunities for life after high school. The school routinely has a good showing in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education[14] (KCSE) nationwide and is consistently ranked highly in its category of schools with large enrolment.[15] [16]


Cadet training era

Lenana High School had a Combined Cadet Force (CCF)[17] training course of para-military standards in which interested students enrolled. The cadet course was started in the colonial era when Mau Mau activity was at its peak to provide basic training for conscription in the all-white Kenya Regiment and was mandatory for all students over 14 years of age. After the colonial era Lenana went on with the cadet course until it was stopped by the government after the unsuccessful 1982 coup d'état. The cadet section had uniforms, guns, ammunition, an armoury, a parade ground with adjacent stores and offices, an obstacle course and a shooting range. Wednesday afternoons were free of lessons for students so that the cadets could undertake their various training activities. The cadets took part in march pasts during various national days. They also used to be assigned sentry duty at the main gate and around the school at night. Successful cadets who passed out would be issued rank. The cadets, after completion of their form 6 education, could further their careers by joining the armed forces as officer cadets. When the cadet training course was shut down the government collected all the guns and ammunition from the armoury but left the cadet uniforms behind. Once every year until the late 1980s teachers would hold a supervised shooting competition. Most of the competitions took place during the school's Founders Day holiday that is celebrated on 28 January.

Sports
Lenana School 1982 15-a-side rugby squad poses for a team photo. They were the 1982 Prescott Cup winners.
Lenana School 1988 7-a-side rugby squad poses for a team photo in front of the school bell which was recovered from HMS Duke of York (17).

Their rugby is steeped in school tradition and has been a major part of the school's scenery since the school's inception in 1949. Back then the sport (and the school) was the reserve of the elite (predominantly white). Since then Lenana has been one of the four elite rugby schools,[18] winning many accolades, trophies, tournaments and being the only high school team ever to win a championship at club level (see Eric Shirley Shield 1977). The school is always represented in the Kenyan high schools premier rugby league – the Prescott Cup, Damu Pevu Shield, the National Rugby championship, the Blackrock Rugby Festival and all other tournaments open to high school rugby. The school also hosts the John Andrews Memorial 7-a-side Rugby Tournament, in honour of a former student. Many former students have gone on to represent the country on the national team in international tournaments as well as play professionally abroad.[18] The team is known as the 'Mean Maroon' and adorns the maroon jersey emblazoned with the white rose for home meets. A sampling of the rugby team's exploits can be found here.[19]

School sanatorium
The front view of the Lenana School Sanatorium in 2011. Students accessed the clinic from the opposite end (chapel side) of the sanatorium while other school residents accessed it mainly from this end. The Ministry of Health (Kenya) has classified the school sanatorium as a ‘Level 2’ clinic.

The students and the staff and their families of Lenana School have a ‘Level 2’ classified sanatorium within the premises. It is equipped with a doctor/medical officer/nurse clinic and both general and private wards for in-patient treatment. The School, through the sanatorium staff and facilities, preserves the health and nutritional status of its residents as well as provides basic medical treatment and stabilisation in cases of emergencies. The School Sanatorium also provides medical counselling services. The School Sanatorium treats about 40 students per day. It has five (5) rooms for its out-patient activities, and six (6) rooms that can accommodate 10 students for in-patient treatment. It has some basic medical equipment and a budget for basic drugs and medicines. In 2019, the Ministry of Health (Kenya) (MoH) designated the Lenana School Sanatorium a MoH Level Two (2)[20] Health Clinic, which assists it in obtaining National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) funded services. The MoH requires that the School undertakes a Quality Improvement Programme for the School Sanatorium, i.e. digitization of its treatment records; means of communicating; and an upgrade of medical equipment, testing equipment, mosquito nets, etc.

Notable alumni
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References
  1. "Google Maps". Maps.google.com. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  2. "Duke of York School, Nairobi, Kenya".
  3. "HMS Duke of York, British battleship, WW2". Naval-history.net. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  4. pm, Vincent Kejitan on 22 June 2017-7:18. "Kenyan Secondary School That Used State House as a Dormitory". Kenyans.co.ke.
  5. App, Daily Nation. "When Lenana boys lived in State House". mobile.nation.co.ke.
  6. "Maasai religion and beliefs - Traditional Music & Cultures of Kenya". www.bluegecko.org.
  7. Kareithi, Amos. "The life and times of paramount chief Lenana". The Standard.
  8. "List of rulers of the Maasai". 17 November 2019 – via Wikipedia.
  10. "News". Optimum Kenya Trust.
  11. "House of York | English family". Encyclopedia Britannica.
  12. "A GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN HERALDRY by JAMES PARKER". www.heraldsnet.org.
  13. "Red roses and white: A brief history of the Tudor Rose". 3 November 2015.
  14. "The history of the Kenyan education system". Daily Nation.
  17. "Duke of York School".
  18. "A Review Of Kenyan Rugby". Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  19. "AlumniMart.com". Archived from the original on 24 April 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  20. "Health Care System in Kenya" (PDF). www.usaidassist.org. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
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