Retired educationist revisits seminary 70 years later

A retired teacher and longtime educationist, Mr. Gabriel Gaitho, surprised staff and students at Kiserian Catholic Junior Seminary with an impromptu visit, 70 years after he first taught at the institution.

At 92 years old, Mwalimu Gaitho, who joined the seminary as a P3 teacher in 1956 after graduating from Kilimambogo Teachers College, recalled the school’s early days. “It was then called the Conception Immaculate Seminary, Kiserian,” he told students and staff.

Accompanying him were his son, Dr Vincent Gaitho, chairman of the Mount Kenya University (MKU) Council, and his siblings, including Mrs Eveline Wambui Kiarie, a former tutor at Machakos Teachers College; Father Francis Wairegi Gaitho of the Nairobi Archdiocese; and Mrs. Hellen Gichuru Gaitho.

During his visit, Mwalimu Gaitho encouraged students to remain focused in their studies and embrace opportunities both within and outside religious life.

“Though you are studying in a Catholic seminary, the world is open to you—as religious leaders or in other careers that you may choose,” he said.

He further encouraged them to pursue higher education, noting that late vocation for religious life is always possible and does not limit career opportunities.

Mwalimu Gaitho also highlighted the importance of moral integrity, honesty, and dedication in serving both the Church and society. He welcomed students to explore opportunities at MKU and other higher learning institutions. MKU offers a wide range of programs for teachers, including Bachelor of Education in Arts, Science, Primary Education, and Special Needs Education, as well as Master’s programs in Educational Counseling, Management, and Special Needs Education.

Other offerings include Diplomas in Early Childhood and Special Needs Education, Postgraduate Diplomas in Education (PGDE), and a Teacher Professional Development (TPD) program accredited by the Teachers Service Commission. The university also provides flexible learning options, including online and distance learning, to accommodate working teachers.

Welcoming the visitors, Rev. Joseph Waratho, Father Rector in Charge, expressed delight in hosting someone who had taught at the school seven decades ago. “Students and teachers have much to learn from a nonagenarian like Mwalimu Gaitho,” he said.

Reflecting on the seminary’s history, Mwalimu Gaitho noted that the institution was initially established at the present site of Kilimambogo Teachers College before temporarily moving to Kabaa in Machakos County and finally relocating to Kiserian in 1956 under Father Grogan’s leadership. Other early teachers included Father Crimine, Father MacCarthy, and Mr. Henry Thou, the carpentry instructor. Mwalimu Gaitho’s fellow teachers also included the late bishops Urbanus Kioko (Machakos Diocese) and Raphael Ndingi Mwana’a Nzeki (Nairobi Diocese).

After his early teaching years, Mwalimu Gaitho continued advancing his education, completing Cambridge O’Levels as a private candidate, later joining secondary schools, and eventually gaining admission to the University of Nairobi in 1968 to pursue a degree in Education (History, Geography, and Psychology). He later returned to Kilimambogo Teachers College as a tutor and deputy principal and earned a 10-month scholarship to study comparative education in Australia at Sydney University.

Mwalimu Gaitho retired in 1992 after a distinguished career spanning primary, secondary schools, and teacher training colleges. Among his notable students are Prof. Simon Gicharu, founder of MKU, and Mr. Mwangi Mbothu, Chief Principal at Kianyaga High School. His son, Dr. Vincent Gaitho, emphasized that MKU continues to benefit from his father’s enduring influence in shaping the education landscape.