About Us

Origin of the land and Founding of Njenga Primary School

Upon John Njenga’s joining of the Seminary and subsequent ordination into Priesthood in February 17, 1957 , the local community spearheaded by Fr. John Njenga’s age mates, as a good will to the young priest, decided to donate the land at Mwahe village, in today’s Githiga Location, to the newly ordained priest, Father John Njenga. This was during land demarcation.

The land given was 2 acres and a plot as a sign of appreciation as their newly ordained spiritual leader, Fr john Njenga, as a gift to him.

At this time, pupils would only attend primary schools sponsored by their churches. Therefore, all Catholic pupils would walk bare-footed all the way to Kambaa Primary School, today referred to as Kanyore Primary School, across the expansive Mukuyu River valley which is a distance of close to 7kms. This was despite the fact that Githiga Primary School was in existence but it was a PCEA sponsored school so the Catholic pupils had to walk to the nearest Catholic sponsored primary school, which was Kambaa Primary School by then.

The parent’s sent a delegation to Father John Njenga to request him to sell his piece of land at Mwahe so that they could put up a Catholic Sponsored school on it. This was done via an enclosed letter which was delivered by Mrs Loice Waithira Njehia (Nyina wa Gakio) and that was in January 1967. Fr Njenga received the letter in February 1967.

They described their children’s fate in the letter. This was the sad case that caught the attention of the young Priest, Fr. John Njenga. In consultation with the said parents, he decided to help the pupils.

Incidentary at that particular time, Father John Njenga was the Catholic Education Secretary in the Arch-Diocese of Nairobi. He had also assisited in founding of Mukuyu Secondary School in Kambaa and Kiaria Secondary School in Lioki as Catholic sponsored schools among many others in the Arch-Diocese of Nairobi.

A meeting was convened for all the stakeholders and Mr. Waweru the then Head Teacher at Kanyore Primary School, parents, the community and the education officer of the time. During the meeting Fr. John Njenga indicated that he was not going to sell the land to the community as earlier requested by the parents but instead he decided to donate the land to the community so that they could build the school.

The area or village where the said land is located is referred to as Mwahe. This issue was left with the head teacher at Kanyore Primary School. During second term in 1967, the pupils from STD1 & 2 were transferred to Mwahe Primary School, the newly founded Catholic sponsored school in Githiga. Two classes were constructed and the pupils moved with their teachers.

Mr.Joseph Kiarie took STD 2 and Mrs. Teresia Kimani took STD 1. The School was initially under the management Kanyore Primary School. The school was ran by a committee of HGM (Holy Ghost Mission) from Kambaa Primary School (aka Kanyore Primary School). The local community with the guidance of the Education Office later formed a committee to run the new school.

In 1968 the school was registered as HGM Njenga primary school and was under the Holy Ghost Missionary as per that time. Later that year, the leadership was taken over by Mr. George Kimani as the founding head Teacher.

Mr. George Kimani took over after registration as the head teacher while Mr. Kiarie as the 1st Deputy Head Teacher. From that moment the school experienced tremendous growth in admission as the pupils number increased to a three streamed school. The parent were also supportive in the construction of the infrastructure. While Fr John Njenga played a great role in school development. Mr. Daniel Kariuki Gathinye was the Chair played a great role in the school development. He was able to move the school in greater heights and the school become so popular in the area due to its performance.

The committee instituted a food programme which was directed by Mrs Wainoe and the pupils were served with the food of the time (Mburuga) which looked like some kind of rice. The school assisted so much in evangelization of the Catholic Church in Githiga and was used as the Church for Sunday Holy Mass celebrations before the new Church at Githiga Parish was put up.

Later the church got a plot at Githiga Town where they moved to. The parents of Githiga community were issued with the title by Bishop John Njenga. The name Njenga Primary was given by the Githiga community members in appreciation for the land. Fr. John Njenga was really involved in construction of the school. The parents have also contributed so much in developing the school.

The performance of school has been very good throughout the years. Among the headteachers in that school include;

1968

The Late Mr. George Kimani Nderu

1968 - 1992

1992

Mr. Edward Njuguna Gachonjoi

1992 - 2008

2008

Mrs. Catherine W Kihonge

2008 - 2018

2018

Mrs. Joyce Murigi

2018 - 2023

2023

Mrs. Winnie Gitau

2023 - 2024

2024

Mr. Ayub Wahuga

2024 - Present

After his sudden demise, the alumni decided to rename the school to Arch Bishop John Njenga in his remembrance.

This also coincided with the renaming of Catholic-sponsored schools in the Archdiocese, hence very timely. This will serve as both an evangelization gesture as well as a way of remembrance of this great Evangelist, the late Archbishop John Njenga, the proposed name of the school.