Starehe's new director

Matthew Nzioka Kithyaka has been appointed the new Director of Starehe Boys Centre.

He replaces Dr Jesse Mugambi who left the institution in December 2008, after being recalled to the University of Nairobi where he had taken a sabbatical leave.

While announcing the appointment at the school on Friday, the Starehe Boys Centre Managing committee Chairman, Engineer Patrick Obath expressed confidence in the choice of the new Director.

“The management committee and Trustees of Starehe Boys Centre are confident that Matthew will guide the institution as it embarks into the next 50 years of its journey to benefit even more boys from disadvantaged backgrounds in Kenya”, he said.

Mr Obath who was accompanied by the school’s trustee Waheed Sheikh and founding director Dr Joseph Gikubu also revealed that Paul Mugo, a 10-year veteran at Starehe and Patrick Waithaka were the new Principal and Head of Student’s Welfare respectively.

Making his introductory remarks Mr Kithyaka (47), said he would endeavour to maintain the high standards exhibited by students and the whole Starehe Boys Centre fraternity.

“My immediate focus will be to strengthen the management institutions of Starehe Boys Centre so as to maintain the tradition of excellence and responsibility”. He said, adding that academia and student welfare would be key, in maintaining discipline and sustaining the heritage of Starehe.

Before his appointment Mr Kithyaka was the operations director for Africa of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Association covering 21 African countries, a position he held since 2006. Prior to this, he was the Director of the Starehe Boys Centre based, Presidents’ Award Scheme, a position he held since 2003.

The former teacher at Kathiani Secondary School is also a former national examiner in Kiswahili at the Kenya National Examinations Council where he was for two years before joining the President’s Award Scheme in 1991 as a training officer focusing on youth programmes.

“Matthew brings a wealth of experience from his time in teaching as well as in development programmes based on leadership and community service. This is in alignment with the core values and ethos of Starehe, as laid out by the late founder Dr Geoffrey Griffin”, concluded Eng. Obath.