John Lenamuge

Post: Standard 2

Hometown: Samburu East

Mother tongue: Samburu

First teacher in family: Yes.

On becoming a teacher:

Inspired by a Kikuyu matron he had in primary school, John set his sights on being a teacher at a very young age. He admired the way his matron and the other teachers took care of the children at school. When he was in Standard 8 he noticed that the catchment of Ndonyo Wasin had only one teacher. This reality pushed John’s dream to the forefront of his mind.

A severe drought in 2005 wiped out John’s family’s cattle. He was forced to drop out of secondary school in Form 3 and return home to help his family. John was a very determined teenager. He told his father that he refused to give up his dream of becoming a teacher. John approached the former head teacher of NWPS and asked for an introduction to ‘Mamma Jane (Newman)’. He had noticed that she was helping other students in the community and wanted a chance to tell her his story. Jane made a deal with John on the spot. If John assisted teachers at NWPS for a while, she would sponsor the balance of his education (Form 4 and teacher’s college).

John holds fast to his commitment to bring education to NW. As a new graduate full of gratitude, he offered his services to NWPS, unpaid. When the funds became available, Jane hired John to teach Standard 2.

* John gives a detailed explanation of his name and family history on the recording.