Retired tutor who served TSC 33 years feted for mentoring girls

When Hellen Kemei walked into the hall, everyone wanted to shake hands with her.

However, most people in the hall did not understand why everyone wanted to greet her.

The Teachers Service Commission chairperson Jamleck Muturi introduced her as teacher number 33.

Kemei started her career immediately after independence.

Muturi bumped into Kemei on one of the commission's endeavours in the counties.

“I found her mentoring Litein girls, speaking to them and the country on how to perform well and behave well, we shade tears,” Muturi said.

Kemei has been a teacher for 33 years, but years after retirement, she is now  teaching young girls about life. 

“Even at her age, she maintains professionalism even after retirement,” Muturi said. 

Kemei was born and raised in Kericho county.

Upon completion of primary school, her parents faced difficulties in finding a girls school.

“Where I come from, in Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza, there was only one girls school,” she said.

Every opening and closing day, she had to travel for more than four hours from Kericho to Butere Girls.

After her studies, she decided to pursue a Diploma in Education at the Kenyatta College, now Kenyatta University.

Her first deployment as a teacher was in 1965 where she was posted to Pangani Girls.

Pangani Girls was formerly called Duchess of Gloucester School.

“I was there for two years, before TSC came into being in 1967,” she said.

TSC was formed in July 1967 through an Act of Parliament to give teachers one employer and uniform terms.

Kemei was among the first Kenyans to be employed by the TSC, giving her the title ‘teacher number 33’.

From Pangani Girls she was deployed to Njoro Boys for three years.

She was allowed to teach in an all-boys school because she was married.

“I was taken back to Nairobi at Precious Blood for two years and later Parklands Arya Girls for 14 years,” she said.

From Parklands, came her trying and last experience at BuruBuru Girls where she started her first class.

She was promoted to serve as the school principal in the year 1986.

“I was one of those people who never felt that important because of always humbling myself,” she said.

This was the last time Kemei was a teacher.

The commission appointed her to serve as a commissioner before her retirement.

Years later, Kemei still visits girls school in her Kericho home area to motivate them.

TSC recognised her as one of the teachers who had played a big role in their career.

Kemei, who was was visibly elated, said she deserves the recognition due to her humility.

“I feel that recognition, I deserve it because we worked under very difficult conditions,” she said.

Another 14 teachers were given different awards for outstanding achievement or community service.

They are Peter Tabichi for the outstanding teacher of 2022 Commonwealth Education Award.

Joel Shunza was recognised for the anti-tobacco award 2022 which was sponsored by World Health Organisation.

Shunza is a teacher at St Stephen Bujwang.

Gerald Motondi from Chesta TTC was feted for the outstanding scripture Art and George Mwololo for Art and Sculpture initiative.

Esther Njeri Mureke received the Global Volunteer and Award leader.

Virginia Muthoni, Ann Nyaguthii, Eustace Muthui, Isabella Wanjiku, David Kipyego, George Mwaniki and Emmanuel Unda fall under the presidential awards category.

Two teachers were awarded for CBC community service (Shokwei Barsui) and CBC agriculture practicals-growing vegetables(Dominic Orina).