400 people gathered at Daraja Saturday to give Form 4s encouragement for their remaining 18 KCSE exams. All Daraja girls woke early and were preparing for the day by 8:00 a.m., chopping vegetables and meat, washing dishes, mopping floors, sweeping dirt paths, and setting up chairs. Guests began arriving at 9:00, and girls waited by the gate to usher the girls to the seating area. Outside Daraja’s patio, hundreds of chairs were arranged to accommodate the guests, students, and staff. Guests included various acclaimed speakers from religious and political bodies, well known Daraja supporters, family members, and tribal chiefs from nearby Mpala, Muramati, and Ilpolei.
Christian Religious Education (CRE) and Swahili teacher Mwambura MC’ed the ceremony, which began at 11:00 a.m. First, all Form 4s gathered in front of the large audience, which contained 250 guests (150 more than expected), 104 Daraja students, and 50 staff members and their families. They sang Daraja’s Anthem, led by Betty and Maureen, and teacher Mercy led the group in prayer. The Form 4s then sang “You Raise Me Up,” and three religious groups of girls (Catholics, Protestants, and Muslims) each performed a song and dance.
Following the girls’ performances were three hours of presentations by various staff, family, students, famous Daraja supporters, political leaders, and religious leaders. Staff members who spoke included Daraja’s administration (Victoria, Deputy Principal, Charles, Academic Dean, and cofounders Jenni and Jason Doherty), teacher Peris, and teacher Caroline. F4 Leila’s mother spoke as the representative of Form 4 parents. Form 4 Marylene Njagi spoke as the class representative. Famed Daraja supporter Lineth Chepkurui, world recorder holder in the 12 kilometer run, was accompanied by 2008 Olympian 1500 meter gold medalist Nancy Jebet Langat and 2008 Olympian 5000 meter silver medalist Eliud Kipchoge. All offered their support for and confidence in Daraja’s Form 4s.
Laikipia East District’s District Education Officer (DEO) Wilson Kipaloi was the main speaker and guest of honor, accompanied by the district’s Quality Assurance Officer. Their presentations were followed by prayers led by representatives of both the Muslim and Christian community – Imam Adan from Nanyuki and Pastor King’ori from the Full Gospel Church of Kenya in Nanyuki. A Catholic priest from the Kalistas Parish in Dol-Dol led the audience in song, and a nearby secondary school principal Paul Mwangi from Laikipia Airbase gave the final blessing.
At 2:00 p.m., lunch was served, and families, honored guests, Daraja staff, and students visited with one another as matatus (van taxis) arrived at campus to bring Forms 1-3 girls home. Form 4s hugged their families and peers goodbye, as everyone but the eldest class and Daraja staff left campus and headed for home. Some were only headed 40 minutes away, to neighboring Nanyuki, while others anticipated day-long journeys to villages hundreds of kilometers away. By 4:00 p.m., campus was quiet, and Form 4s returned to their studies, preparing for their remaining 18 KCSE exams. Daraja’s first “Prayer Day” was a success (note: Daraja Academy has no religious affiliation, but understands and respects the fact that religion is very important in Kenyan life and culture).
