IMANI ALUMNI.

I was one of the first students enrolled at Imani School when it opened in 1969. It wasn't yet a boarding school. I was grade five then. Headmaster/Class teacher = Mr. Gary Jones French Teacher = Mrs. Sue Jones Geography = Mrs. Punjab Amer. History = Mrs.

Wheeler Art Teacher = Mrs. Hall Drama Teacher = Mrs. McAllan At that time, there were only three small buildings, an open-air basketball court, a swimming pool, a hockey field, and a cross-country course. Students were divided between Red House & Blue House. I served as Head Girl for the Red House.

I think the school population at that time couldn't have been more than 50! Today, as I look at the posted pictures and read aricles of how the school has developed and expanded, I feel proud to have been part of it's early years.

 All of our teachers were outstanding educators. When something good and magical happens, the memory never fades. It remains fresh and eternal. Thank you to all the pioneers of Imani School.

The loud whistling bell sounded like a police siren that marked one lesson unto another. Imani brings back fond memories and a strong desire to come back and revisit. Mr. Jones the Australian Headmaster, Julian Palistair, our history teacher who lost his life on Mt. Kenya, Mrs. Punja, Ms. Cleavely.

I remember close friends: Geremia Bellingeri, Emma Zarnardi, Yme Dollmans, Isabel Hawley and many more. Horse riding early morning, catching snakes at lunch time in the flower bed around the pool with Rupert, and keeping them as pets. I climbed Mr. Kenya twice with Julian and have fond memories of the old grey VW Beatle where I learned to drive. I imagine much has changed. I am now in diplomatic service stationed in Afghanistan until early next year. Have been in Central Asia for the last 10 years and in the UK and Canada prior to that. Can't wait to return to Kenya and visit Imani. Some of the best days of my life.....

It was a long, long time ago. I remember a lot of great times there; I can't recall the Australian headmaster's name from the period, but I do remember him as a wonderful man who balanced his authority with with a quick wit. I remember an English husband-wife teaching team, whose surname began with K.

He helped me develop a love for science which Canadian high school quickly destroyed.

His wife was tireless in teaching me the correct way to write with a pen. I remember an old VW bug in which I first learned to drive on the back fields of the school; I remember bringing my motorcycle to school so I could ride home to Nairobi on weekends.

During the week, I boarded with others in a converted plantation house, under the care of a German (or Swiss) lady who made bread I still dream about. I still want to bring my children to Africa, to show them how beautiful it is.

My time at Imani was fantastic; thanks for bringing it all back to me.

Safari Boots, Maths Teacher Mr McAllister, Rebecca Settle, English teacher, whose handwriting I copied and still use today, Mrs McAllen, the Drama Teacher, Mrs Punja of course, who was the Headmistress at the time and I always seemed to be waiting outside her office for some punishment or other! 

The trampoline and of course, the bus which was at that time, the cantina where we would buy things to eat. Waiting every Friday (I boarded nearby) for our driver to pick me up from the dusty carpark in between the Preparatory School and High School, and many, many other small things.

I could go on forever. Really, count as some of the best years of my life!!!!!! Horseriding in the pineapple plantations and running twice round the running track opposite the school. Does the old car still exist next to the running track??? I was in Form 1 at the time and we used to go and play in that car!!!!

Pineapple jam, pineapple juice, fresh pineapple, diced pineapple, pineapple dessert..yeah..

I can still taste em all! Oh and Mr Omweri (?) chasing us in his mini cooper on the crosscountry runs..

Mrs Wangia's commerce class..The double decker Tuck shop!!.....

Well it's been a while but I remember telling Miss Gill that I could swim at which point she asked me to jump in< well I did and started to drown so she jumped in after me fully clothed she then taught me how to swim from her back.

Tom singing in assembly.

There are many more such as our trips to fishermans camp and trips up mount Kenya and end of term when all the juniors had to hide from the seniors etc etc Best time of my life great

- Remember being on gardening and having to push the green mukokoteni around school.

- Or having to put more firewood in the mkuni booster so you could have a hot shower

 - buying a choc-stick on a sunday after letter writing, then wearing your sunday best for dinner

 - remember how Uma would come and check on us during 1st prep (everybody would act all busy. lol)

- and the first meal after we got back from the holidays was always baked beans, sausages etc

Man, where do i start, the brown short shorts!!!! How we used to fight for seconds during break time, being pinched by the matrons.... the way we used to hide "GRAB" and only open it when people were asleep.

i remember a lot of imani as if it were yesterday.i passed my most memorable years in imani. still remember miss monroe nd miss clark, all great frnds i made back then namely arjun,devan,priyal,sonam.its been ages since i left tat school but still remember those times i passed there wid buddies.its been a gr8 school nd will always remain in my heart!

1. ghosh where do i start...class 5 in '93 pocket money back then was 5bob a week. class 7 '95 pocket money 70bob a week. form 3 '98 pocket money 200bob a week and it was never enough.

2. Rest period on saturdays and sunday..why o why did that siren have to ring jus b4 saber riders and star sheriffs on sato and b4 NBA action on sunday. we had to beg schrode to hook us up wit time.

3. KISS COMAND & PROMISE - u just knew u were in class 7 by then ma pimples kibao

4. Mrs Omuriai aka Omu..wa wa wa those pinches...junior boys dorm on bread n water punishment..." R u coming or wat!!!"

5. Mrs Njenga n ha curly hair..kinda reminds me of lionel Richie back in tha day

6. Lawrence Kwasi and Saleh Jabri..nutters..those 2 were always on GD, Kitchen duty, isolation, D.T u name it..ohhhh n the big 5. Muni nyamata, Kevin Mollel, David Tum, Amir Malik and Aboagye...

7. Bala Punja..no comment

8. kissin n huggin after 2nd prep..lol

Imani was my home for over 13 years. 13 is said to be an unlucky number, but for me it is very lucky! Imani made me into what I am now, and those of you who know me will agree that it has done a pretty damn good job! We started with 4 people in the class...Arjun, Priyal, Sonam S and myself (sorry if I left someone out).

Slowly, they all deserted me! They left for what they thought were happier hunting grounds, but as Arjun would agree being made to repeat a year, Imani was the only hunting ground! I can't emphasize enough how much I owe Imani for modelling me in such a way that I can now tackle the world with a strong foundation and a belief to make a difference.