05/09/2026
The Principal Who Borrowed From His Own Salary To Save A School!
When Obenge Philemon Ogolla arrived at Riambase DEB Secondary School in Nyamache in 2007, he didn’t exactly find a school ready for business.
Just four classrooms, no doors or windows, and a school sitting in a swampy area surrounded by blue gum trees.
Student population? A modest 84 learners.
Government funding was taking its sweet time, so Ogolla did something extraordinary — he took a personal loan against his salary to fix the school, including doors and windows, and brought other teachers on board.
Fast-forward to 2018: the school had grown into a model institution with 1,073 students and full boarding facilities.
And the results followed. In the 2017 KCSE, 108 out of 149 candidates secured direct university admission, while even the last seven managed C- grades.
Mr. Obenge takes over the reigns at Ambira against a backdrop of students unrest and dwindling academic performance.
Will he steady the ship?
Story originally done by Education News.
