President Uhuru Kenyatta's uncle, James Muigai, was admitted in Kenya's iconic Allaince High School on barefoot, recalls Journalist Kamau Ngotho is his 'Memories From the Beat'.
The pioneer student, who was registered as student No.1, had been taken to the instition by his brother, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, when it opened gates on March 1st 1926.
"It was like we had been dropped in the middle of nowhere. All around the school were thick bushes and we feared wild animals," Muigai told Ngotho in an interview in 90s.
Incidentally, the institution, which is located at least 22 kilometers from the capital, is called 'Bush' and her alumni called 'Busherians'.
Records retrieved from pioneer headmaster, George Arthur Grieve, indicates that the pioneer 27 students were old enough to be in job market!.
"I took out of the house and took a deep breath. The boys had arrived. They were sited barefoot with their wooden boxes," observed the school head.
Despite the institution opening specifically for poor African boys, President Uhuru's sister, Margret Kenyatta, the one time Nairobi Mayor, was among few girls to go through it.
Muigai, the youngest brother of Jomo, died in 1995 and his son, Ngengi Muigai, inherited Jomo's Gatundu seat upon his death.