Geoffrey William Griffin and the Starehe Dream

Photo: Daily Nation

The late Geoffrey William Griffin, founder of Starehe Boys' Centre, was laid to rest yesterday in a ceremony attended by President Mwai Kibaki, politicians, educationists, gov't officials, Starehe old boys and students. Griffin also started the National Youth Service, another important institution for the youth. He will remembered as an indefatigable and kind administrator who gave most of his time and life for Starehe.

Since its humble beginnings from a centre with just three huts in 1959, Starehe has grown into a colossus in the country's education landscape. But the biggest contribution by Starehe and Dr Griffin has been the free education of some of Kenya's brightest and neediest students. Many of today's top engineers, doctors, surveyors, scientists and artists would not have been able to make it to university and their current posts were it not for Starehe.

As President Mwai Kibaki told Kenyans, Starehe needs all our support. Kenyans must realise that the institution is one of the success stories of our country. For many years, Starehe has relied on external donors who included the Save the Children Fund and corporate sponsors like Kenya Shell. That source of funding is fast drying up and an Endowment Fund has been set up. Old boys and other private well wishers are now playing an important role in raising funds for the school.

Never before has Starehe needed our support more than it does today. It is still churning out some of Kenya's best brains. Many of them would have wasted away in villages were it not for Starehe.
But producing excellent results like Starehe does needs a strong financial base. This is because the centre sponsors over a thousand students every year at its primary and secondary divisions and college set up there and many thousands more at other secondary schools countrywide.

Let all Kenyans of goodwill try their best to raise money for the school. Let us all take pride in the Starehe success story. Support Starehe today. And let the dreams of Geoffrey William Griffin live on.