Joan Waithaka etched her name in history as the inaugural African head of Alliance High School, a notable achievement for the first secondary school catering to African girls. Established in 1948 by the Alliance of Protestant Missionaries, Alliance High School saw Joan as one of its pioneer female graduates. Her journey culminated in her appointment as the institution’s first African principal in 1969, succeeding Mary Bruce.
Joan Waithaka’s narrative, as recounted by WoK, is deeply rooted in a family with a profound educational legacy. Musa Gitau, the family patriarch, was among the earliest PCEA clergymen during the establishment of the Church of Scotland Mission in Kenya. Not only did he teach Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the nation’s founding father, but he also played a crucial role as a sponsor (Mutiri) during a significant event in Kenyatta’s life in 1913.
Born on June 14, 1929, in Kamandura, Limuru, Joan, formerly Joan Gitau, emerged from a family that highly valued education. Her father, Mr. Gitau, advocated for both boys and girls to receive quality education. Joan’s journey into matrimony saw her unite with Professor James Mbugua Waithaka.
Joan’s educational voyage began at Church of Scotland Mission Primary School in Thogoto. She excelled in her Primary School Certificate examination in 1941, alongside Margaret Kenyatta. At a time when junior secondary education for girls was scarce, Joan distinguished herself by being among the first three girls to enroll at Alliance in 1944 when it was exclusively a boys’ school. Her academic prowess shone brightly as she secured the top position in Alliance High School, becoming the first and only girl to achieve a Division one in the Cambridge School Certificate Examination.
Post-Alliance, Joan pursued a diploma in education at Makerere University, becoming the first Kenyan girl to enroll there. She further made history as the first Kenyan girl to graduate with a teachers’ certificate diploma. Returning to Kenya, Joan embarked on a teaching career, leaving an indelible mark at institutions such as Machakos Girls High School, Thogoto Teachers Training College, and Highridge Teachers College. In 1968, she assumed the role of headmistress at Nairobi Girls Secondary School.
The pinnacle of her educational career unfolded in 1969 when, more than two decades after leaving Alliance, Joan was appointed principal of Alliance Girls High School. Despite her strict discipline, students affectionately referred to her as “auntie.” She served in this capacity for a remarkable 15 years before retiring from teaching in 1984. Post-retirement, she contributed her expertise to various boards.
Joan Waithaka’s outstanding contributions did not go unnoticed. Retired President Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi bestowed upon her the Order of the Burning Spear second class, and Kenyatta University honored her with the Distinguished Service Award for her exceptional contributions to education.
Mrs. Waithaka bid farewell to the world in 2019, finding her final resting place at her family home in Kentmere, Limuru. Her legacy lives on as a trailblazer in education and a pivotal figure in the history of Alliance High School.
