Patterson Memorial Secondary School — Olkiramatian

Classrooms construction is completed (1st Stream)

Construction of Patterson Memorial Secondary School started in October 2004 as a joint effort between the local community and Tata Chemicals Magadi (TCM). This followed a request from the local community who were in need of a boarding secondary school to cater to students graduating from primary schools. The company allocated funds for the initial construction and also managed to get support from Brian Patterson Education Trust – which provided funding for solar system – and Tata Chemicals, which expanded the school’s infrastructure to accommodate a second stream. As a part of community contribution and to ensure ownership, the community donated Kshs1,000,000 through sale of steers that the community members had contributed, and 22 acres of land.

The school opened its doors to the first Form One intake on February 29, 2005. The school was officially opened by the area MP and minister of education, Prof George Saitoti. The government, through the Teacher Service Commission, provided qualified teachers. Phase two then kicked off, which involved putting up a dormitory, 2 classrooms, and fencing, among others. The school is now complete (forms one to four) with a total of 300 students. The construction of the second stream — through Tatas' support — is ongoing. The school caters to both boys and girls, and is situated at Olkiramatian centre some 20km away from Magadi Township.

James Mathenge - managing director, Tata Chemicals Magadi and other guests officially open a girls’ dormitory in the school.

The facility has increased access to secondary education to pastoralist children from the surrounding community besides reducing the cost of education, as children do not have to travel long distances. In appreciation of the company’s support, the community nominated TCM’s managing director James Mathenge as the chairman of the school’s board of governors.

The school was named after one of TCM’s directors, the late Dr Brian Patterson, whose passion was education for the local community.

The school’s pioneer class has already taken the national examination and posted very good results. A number of the students from the school qualified for university, with two students scoring As.