Juja Road primary - 1985

I went to school in Juja road primary school in the pangani section of Nairobi. Primary school holds some of my best memories. With the introduction of 8-4-4 and we being the guinea pigs, life was bound to be some sort of roller coaster. From something like 6 subjects in standard 6 we shot to 11 or 12 or 13 in standard seven complete with planting of cabbages, knitting dolly pyjamas and washing sufurias in the home science class. One of my best memory but rather an interesting one as well was that of our agriculture teacher Gatiba making off with our cabbages after awarding marks for the best and worst grown ones. Since the syllabus was still new and many areas still grey, interpretation was best left to the teacher. We didnt complain and neither did our parents.

I remember how we would play soccer barefeet because you didnt want your parents to skin you alive for messing your school shoes. There were always 6 teams at any one time during a soccer matches at break time and after lunch, complete with six different balls. Somehow we always knew which one was ours and goalies had to give way when it wasnt their ball being kicked towards the post.

Railway football ground across the school was used for more serious after school tournaments. It was also for settling scores. 'Nimekuwekea Wanted' was the generally accepted manly way to settle a squabble usually started off by mchongoano.... you never dishonoured a wanted else you would be the chicken of the school until the end of the term. I remember one guy being being chongolewad,
'Budako ni mchafu mpaka ana mtaro kwa kifua' That was railway (reru) straight away.. Good old days...
Closing day was picnic days and i remember turning up in suits of all kinds. one time I had on this army style suit.. like the ones worn by majors, things i wore sandaks with it, but did i care??