By Stephen Maranga
Nyamagwa SDA Comprehensive School bid a farewell to its long-serving head teacher, Peris Tongi Kerongo, after clocking the mandatory retirement age.
The ceremony marked the end of 34 years of selfless dedication as a teacher and school administrator.
Of those, an impressive 30 years were dedicated to the very institution where she left an indelible mark.
Under her visionary leadership, the school consistently posted stellar academic results, with learners earning coveted placements in national and extra-county schools.
Her ceremony drew one of the largest retirement crowds in recent memory within Keumbu Division, Kisii Central Sub County.
The grounds were graced by a vibrant assembly of former pupils, retired educators, civil servants, parents—past and present—as well as key education stakeholders, all united in celebrating a life devoted to education.
Serving under the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Kerongo also held leadership roles beyond the classroom, notably as the treasurer for both Ibeno and Keumbu Division teachers’ associations.
A proud alumna of the University of Nairobi (UoN), she also obtained several qualifications from respected institutions across the country.
Kerongo’s family tree is richly rooted in academia, with her siblings and in-laws all having made significant contributions in the field of education.
So devoted was Kerongo to her calling that some of her early pupils would later return to serve alongside her as colleagues.
Her retirement was marked not only by songs and speeches but by an outpouring of gratitude, with gifts ranging from heartfelt tributes to the more unusual—including animals.