Lenana School

Dear Laibon,

Few people know the name Alaqoque Ntome. But tens of thousands have enjoyed the super precision and master craftsmanship of his work almost every day, all year round. On the 6th of July 2018, Alaqoque started his day with an early morning visit to Lenana School. As a big favour to a worthy cause, Alaqoque’s visit was to see the stage and make a plan of how he would light it up for a very special event. The organisers had approached him on a very tight budget to help, and in his typical generous way, Alaqoque had promised to do what he could.

The next morning, Saturday 7th of July, the boys in the school choir were busy putting final touches to their Sunday best, polishing their instruments and rehearsing a few loose ends in their music. ‘Step Aside’ was finally here. Today the Kenya Conservatoire of Music Orchestra would grace their school to perform with and for them, and other guests, to raise funds that were desperately needed to keep their fledgling orchestral programme alive. Dr Yoland Coombs, Mrs Santa Kachra, Mr John Sibi-Okumu, Mr Ian Mbugua, the School principal, Mr Kemei…..all these big names had offered to either support the concert from a distance, or to actually attend it. Were they ready? Just a few days before, Levi Wataka, an orchestral conductor and a representative of the alumni class of 1998 (the year group under who the orchestra programme was spear headed) had visited the school for a detailed rehearsal. He had pointed out many glaring corners that would have to be straightened out before the concert if it was to match up to the old boys’expectations. Laka Nyaga, from 2007, had visited to take short video clips for professional publicity, again on a very tight budget.

As Alaqoque, the top stage lights engineer in the country, dangled precariously many metres above the school stage installing floodlights and switches, and while Sandra Daniel, band director and Moses Otieno, choir director worked to prepare their final instructions to the boys, Mr Mugambi Nthiga, our kind MC was also getting ready to travel to the school to once again fill in this role for the concert. The incoming Laibon Society committee, led by chairman, Mr Frank Mutua and Secretary, Mr. Charles Simba were preparing to not only grace the occasion, but to formally receive the mantle from the outgoing office bearers. The society’s treasurer, Mr Johnstone Gikandi had already worked tirelessly in collecting donations through ticket sales on the Laibon Mpesa paybill, and would be attending the concert to hear what this stepping aside was all about. Hezron Muriuki and the entire Nouveta team were setting up their part of this amazing community’s support, having led the ticket sales on their www.ticketsoko.com platform.

‘Step Aside’, a term coined in acknowledgement of the return to rugby domination in Kenya by Lenana School’s Mean Maroon (one of the alumni led initiatives) in the near future, is also a concert aimed at raising the funds to sustain the schools orchestra and choir programmes, under the alumni’s restoration of arts and culture at the school. These, as well as good quality sports, are recognised as important pillars in a wholesome education. This year, the concert also marked one of the most diverse re-unions of old boys since the service in honour of Rev. Dodman in 2017. It is our sincere hope that the annual event will continue to bring Laibons together for continued direct support of not only returning Lenana to a world class educational institution, but a platform for social and professional networking for all Alumni, young and less young.

After the collective success of the ongoing swimming pool initiative, the school orchestra is, though to a much smaller scale, a central initiative to the impact we, as alumni can have on the standards of education and experience of the boys and staff of Lenana School. On this occasion, a total of ksh 128,000 shillings was raised through tickets sales and direct donations. This is slightly more than half the minimum required to run the programme for a year, but double what was raised during the inaugural concert in 2016. We are deeply grateful for the gentlemen from the class of 1998 who continue to selflessly cover the shortfall. We also welcome all alumni to extend a further hand towards this cause, as we make small but sure steps towards a robust and sustainable music programme at Lenana School.

Finally, we must finish with gratitude to Duncan Ogweno, (class of ’93) whose photography has allowed us the pictures attached to this email, for our enjoyment and for creating such vivid memories for all of us to cherish.

Link to Picture Gallery.

http://music.lenana.school/orchestra/

We look forward to seeing you all at the next annual concert in 2019.

TicketSoko - Click & Pay

COMRADES:
Do we have chants for occasions such as
A maroonie bachelors toast
A maroonie wedding toast
or any other occasions where brothers meet in honor
if not i think it is high time we have these...

i know the one for funerals
"Because a maroonie never falls.
If he falls, he never hurts.
If he hurts, he never faints.
If he faints, he never dies.
If he dies, he never rots.
If he rots, he will smell like the White Rose!."

i think that unites us when we have no uniforms out there

beats Alliance ( ) 11-10. ! Finals next!

A 60
A- 120
B+ 64
B 38
B- 12
C+ 3
C 4
Mean A-(minus)
10.51
Congratulations class of 2015

The Founders Day Sunday service is to be held this Sunday the 31st and all alumni are welcome to attend in case you could not make it during yesterdays celebrations.

Celebrating 67 years of making . Happy Founders Day. Nihil Praeter Optimum.

Handover of the rugby kits by the Old Boys. (Images courtesy of Baba Thierry and Theo)

Congratulations to Fr James Mwaura (RN, Class of 03) on taking the selfless road to priesthood!
Photos courtesy of Vincent Were.