I love and greatly appreciate all the teachers who were there to teach us how to curve out the letters of the alphabet and keeping them straight on the lines of our exercise books (ibuku ria mwandiko), a task that seemed impossible when we started out. They taught us how to count from one to ten using our fingers and when it got to the complicated addition and subtraction, they simplified it by showing us how to use bundles of sticks.
We did not appreciate our teachers back then, but when I look back, I realize those are the heroes of our economy and every aspect of our lives. Every President, every CEO, every doctor, every worker anywhere, in an office, a factory, farming or operating a kiosk, knowing how to count their money and give the correct change, we all collectively owe it to a teacher somewhere. They pulled us from illiteracy and brought us to the light of understanding how to navigate our surrounding. Simple things we take for granted like checking the time on a clock, reading a road sign, checking the route a bus or a matatu is heading, identifying products in a shop; daily things that make our lives easier.
We all owe it to a teacher somewhere who inhaled chalk dust, drawing us familiar images and telling us what they were called in two foreign languages, English and Swahili, two languages that would determine how well we communicated with other tribes in our country and the international communities of the world.
I give a shout out to some wonderful teachers who introduced us to education at Munyeki Primary School: Mr. Njoroge King’e who was Mr. Gachogu’s faithful deputy. He was of quiet demeanor and he was very active in community affairs even after he retired from teaching. Parents loved and respected Mr. Njoroge alot. He has since relocated to Limuru where he was originally from. Mrs Ndung’u – Nyina wa Kamiri who made sure we learnt our multiplication tables. The hemming, back stitch and embroidery she taught us is what I still use to date. She was the first person I ever heard mentioning Sofa Set. She tried explaining what a Sofa looked like but none of us knew what she was talking about, but when we finally saw one later in our lives, we were able to recognize what it was, thanks to Nyina wa Kimiri. She is from our Settlement Scheme, and we are glad she is from Home. Mrs. Wambui Gathii – Nyina wa Muthoni was one of our Pioneer teachers at Munyeki before she relocated to Kirima where she still resides. Mr. Njuguna Machua, Mr. Muhuhi, Mr. Muthondio, Mr. Ngotho, Mr. Kamakia, Mr. Gathii Ndegwa, Mr. Njenga, Mr and Mrs. Kimotho, Mrs. Nyaruai, Mrs Ngige – Nyina wa Porcelene Konyu, Mr. Ndungu who replaced Mr. Gachogu as Headmaster of Munyeki. He introduced us to chorus music and we became so good we made it to the District competitions in Nyahururu.
Speaking of music, we had one Mr. James Njiri, I believe he came from Murang’a. Mr. Njiri was the fun teacher who brought a guitar to class and played us some tunes, as he taught us some favorite childhood tunes that still rings clear in my mind. Anybody remembers these: “Siku moja palikuwa na chura, akaogelea ana furaha, akaimba wimbo wake no kwa kwa kwa kwa bwana, majivuno nayo yakazidi zidi zidi …….” Another was “nilienda kwa muhunzi na jembe langu la gumba, nikamwomba kwa furaha, majembe anivuliye eeeeeee, mvua imekwisha pita …….” an English favorite was “Oh no John, no John, no John no. My father was a Spanish Captain, went to sea a month ago ……….” Keep singing if you remember it. Mr. Njiiri also taught us the “500 miles” song that we used to serenade our train when it choo choo-ed its way in and out of OlKalou every day of our childhood. It went like this: “If you miss the train I’m on, you will know that I am gone, You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles ………………” These vivid memories I still carry with me these many decades later, are a testament to how much impact a teacher has on a child’s young brain.
To you all my teachers, my heroes, I am finally turning in my “homework” for your grading. As you can see, I learnt to read and write against all odds, I can tell time and I can do some math, all thanks to you. The collective values you taught us back then in our formative years, are what keeps us standing to this date. My life, my career, my children, all have your fingerprints all over them. And for that my hero educators, Thank You and God Bless You.
PS: Where are you my dear teachers? I would love to hear from you or your families who may be reading this. Munyeki alumni, anybody with updates on our teachers?
