Kyuso Class of 1983 celebrates and honours former Headteacher, Nzila

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‎In a surprise visit to his home in Kathonzweni village, Mui Ward, Kitui County, the alumni showered their former mentor with praises and gratitude for his remarkable role in molding their character and academic success.

‎Led by prominent commercial affairs lawyer Mr. William Maema, the old boys also presented gifts to Mr. Nzila and his wife, Serah, as tokens of appreciation.

‎Maema lauded the retired educator for instilling discipline, hard work, and moral values among the students, noting that most members of the 1983 class had since established themselves in respectable and influential positions across various sectors.

‎He described the now 85-year-old retired teacher as a “God-sent angel” who transformed Kyuso Boys’ Secondary School after taking over as headteacher in late 1980.

‎ “Life was extremely tough and unbearable at Kyuso then. Water was a scarce commodity, and teachers avoided the school due to the harsh conditions,” Maema recalled.

‎“Most subjects had no teachers, and we had to study on our own to avoid failing our examinations.”

‎Maema narrated how Mr. Nzila, upon realizing the difficulty of attracting teachers to the remote school, traveled to Nairobi and personally purchased a large consignment of books to stock the school library. “With our library fully equipped, those of us determined to learn worked hard — and when national examinations came, we performed as well as students from prestigious schools like Alliance High,” Maema said.

‎He added that the headteacher also worked tirelessly to resolve the chronic water shortage, enabling students to focus more on their studies without the burden of fetching water.‎ “Although we are guilty of waiting 42 years to visit the man who made us who we are, we felt compelled to finally come and say thank you,” Maema added.

‎Visibly moved, Mr. Nzila expressed deep gratitude for the gesture from his former students. “This is truly memorable. I never imagined, even in my wildest dreams, that I would host my former students as they came to appreciate my contribution to their education and lives,” said the emotional retired tutor.

‎He added that although he had taught many cohorts during his long teaching career, no other group had ever paid him such a visit. He vowed to treasure the 1983 class’s act of appreciation for the rest of his life.