Trailblazer who rose from poverty to become the pioneer of private schools

Long before private schooling became a normal part of the education system, Prof Judith Mukwanjeru was running Sawa Sawa Academy (SSA) in Meru.

The academy started in the 1980s at the edge of Nkunga Forest along the Meru -Nanyuki highway, setting the pace for the country’s first Kenyan and privately-owned academies.

Looking back now Mukwanjeru marvels at what she was able to achieve by birthing and promoting the concept of private academies. They now constitute a significant portion of both primary and secondary schools.

Starting a school was an idea she conceived when she was doing Form Five and Form Six at Highlands Girls and later as she served as a school principal in her mid-20s.

In a twist of fate after her graduation from the University of Nairobi, the Teachers Service Commission appointed her the principal of her former school, St Mary’s Girls Igoji.

“I had joined St Mary’s Girls, Igoji, in 1964 in the pioneer Form One class. I was head girl for the four years I spent there. I went to the University of Nairobi where I graduated with a B.A Education degree. Later, I was posted to St Mary’s Girls Igoji as the school principal at the age of only 25 and thus history was made. It was, and still is, one of the biggest girl’s schools in Eastern,” she reminisces.

“Running the school wasn’t easy at first, and I was reluctant to take the role, but TSC insisted, so I accepted. Like falling into a pool without swimming skills, you don’t drown—you fight to survive,” she says. 

“I secured grants, brought electricity, improved infrastructure, and introduced A Levels, whose first class ranked among the country’s top 20. As one of the first black principals in the region, I was determined to prove local teachers could lead effectively. Now I visit the school with pride in what I and my successors achieved,” she says.

“I was born and raised in Tharaka Nithi County. I was a little girl when our father died, plunging us into serious poverty. I shared torn uniform with my elder sisters. We had no shoes and often went to school hungry,” she remembers.

Mukwanjeru says they were fortunate that their mother valued education and ensured they religiously attended the local primary school.

“It was not common to see girls go to school back then. Yet, unfortunately for my mother, her first four children were girls! She was frowned upon by neighbours, but she stubbornly mobilised us to go to school.”

They had to work in neighbouring farms to raise money to buy food and school fees.

“By God’s grace, I performed very well and joined Highlands Girls, now Moi Girls Eldoret. It was a predominantly white school, with a few blacks. From my poor background, attending such a high class high school opened my eyes to the possibilities.”

Each student had their own room, their clothes were washed and pressed for them.

“We had smartly dressed waiters. The cutlery was set just like in big hotels. If a knife fell, all you had was to click a finger and a waiter would be beside you in a second, with a replacement!”

With lunch and dinner, a five-course affair, Mukwanjeru said she loved the lifestyle at school.

“We would start with soup and doughnut, then select the main course from fish, chicken and others. We would graduate to pudding and if you wanted, wash it down with coffee, tea and other drinks. The experience mesmerised me. I decided I was going to achieve a super living style, the best.”

After her graduation with a teaching degree, she taught and managed St Mary’s Igoji for a few years, but she says she had a goal to fulfil, so she presented her resignation to the TSC.

“I decided to retire to pursue a vision that had formed during my time at Highlands School, as I felt limited in my role as a public school administrator. I took a risk few graduates dared, seeking the freedom to follow my dream. I founded Sawa Sawa Academy, Kenya’s first private academy, which made a strong impact by producing top-performing students who now hold key leadership positions locally and abroad. In 1993, one US college had 12 students who had been classmates at Sawa Sawa.”

“Our students were the talk of the country, with many excelling in KCPE and going on to become pilots, CEOs, and senior professionals. I learned that mentoring students is a lasting service to society,” she says.

Mukwanjeru studied in seven universities, two in Kenya, two in US, one in UK, one in Sweden and another in South Africa.

“I can say with no slightest fear of contradiction that I achieved my life’s dreams and attained exposure and experience that is truly unique. I chose to go back to school to add value to my entrepreneurial and managerial prowess.”

In later years she taught at several universities, including Kenya Methodist University in Meru.

“I joined the Kenya Methodist University as I completed my PhD in Entrepreneurship and Management with Washington State University. In 1994, I had studied Advanced ICT at the Northern Illinois at De Kalb. While at KeMU I was also appointed to the Board of Governors to transit the Meru University College of Science and Technology into a university. Later I was appointed the transitional chairperson. Currently, I do mainly consultancy work.”

Four decades later, her family converted the grounds that hosted Sawa Sawa Academy to The Memory Park, where she takes nature walks and engages visitors who are out to have a quiet time in the serene environment that Nkunga Forest offers.

On April 11, Prof Mukwanjeru launched her autobiography, Destined Achiever, at an event attended by former students at the school.

The students, some who came with their families from Nairobi, said they wanted to celebrate her, and appreciate what she did for them, as they also celebrated her autobiography.

“I have been authoring texts for universities. I enjoy music, it’s my other life. I spend time relaxing at The Memory Park and take nature walks in adjacent Mt. Kenya Forest and within my man made arboretum. I have written published books on human resource and entrepreneurship,” she says.