Nairobi News

HustleNews

Sonko renames city road after Starehe Boys founder Dr Griffin


Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko on Saturday renamed Racecourse Road to Dr Geoffrey William Griffin Road in honour of the founder of the Starehe Boys Centre.

Griffin, who founded the school in 1959 with the help of the late Geoffrey Gatama Geturo and Joseph Kamiru Gikubu, died in June 2005 after battling colon cancer for about year.

The governor made the announcement during the 59th Founders’ Day Celebration at Starehe Boys Centre.

“I wish to let you know that the Nairobi City County Government has passed a motion in the County Assembly to rename Racecourse Road to Dr Geoffrey William Griffin Road. This will be done with immediate effect,” said Sonko.

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko presents an award to a student during the 59th Founders’ Day Celebration at Starehe Boys Centre. PHOTO | COURTESY
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko presents an award to a student during the 59th Founders’ Day Celebration at Starehe Boys Centre. PHOTO | COURTESY

The ceremony was attended by British High Commissioner Nic Hailey, Starehe Boys Centre Director Josphat Mwaura and several MPs among them Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris.

Sonko celebrated Dr Griffin as a man whose wisdom and ambition in establishing the institution impacted positively on the lives of thousands.

SYMBOL OF EXCELLENCE

The City Governors said Starehe has become the symbol of excellence, hard work and discipline that other schools should emulate to avoid the now common and emerging unfortunate trend of students senselessly burning their school properties.

He said it is not right for student’s future to be decided by a two hour examination but pointed out that students should not be rebellious because of exams.

Sonko-Starehe-III
Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko with Nairobi Women Representative Esther Passaris during the 59th Founders’ Day Celebration at Starehe Boys Centre. PHOTO | COURTESY

“Let me offer a word of advice to our students, the parents and guardians have sacrificed for you to be in school because it’s a better option to arm you with education as an inheritance,” said Sonko.

He said that the education system should use continuous assessment tests to grade students and also look for the strength in every child and enhance it.

The governor said Nairobi county has taken education seriously by offering free Early Childhood Development Education, with each ECDE pupil now receives Sh3,500.