63 YEARS LATER, THE PARTNERSHIP WITH STAREHE BOYS CENTRE KEEPS GROWING

The late Dr. Geoffrey William Griffins was working in Kenya as a young British military officer and was appalled by the atrocities committed by the British soldiers and the Kenyans fighting for independence during the Mau Mau Emergency (1952–60). Griffin instead chose to care for juveniles caught up in the crisis.

Dr. Griffin approached Shell/BP in Kenya and held a fortuitous meeting with Mr. John Francis, the then General Manager. Griffin took Francis around some of the hovels and hideouts for the homeless boys in Nairobi and showed him the rudimentary rehabilitation initiatives that were then in place.
Francis was impressed and committed his company to a partnership with the school that extended beyond the financial: he drew up the school constitution, chaired the Starehe management committee, and eased relations with the colonial administration when questions arose about Griffin's conflicting private and public roles.

Starehe Boys Centre was founded in 1959 by Dr. Geoffrey William Griffin, Geoffrey Gautama Geturo, and Joseph Kamiru Gikubu. It started as a rescue center in Nairobi. Starehe Boys Centre is one of the two African schools south of the Sahara and North of Limpopo distinguished as Round Square members. The name "Starehe" is a Swahili word for "Tranquility, Peace, or 'Comfort," signifying a place where orphaned boys could find solace. It is also the location of the institution.

Kenya Shell/BP donated two tin huts that housed the first group of 17 boys rescued and admitted to the school in 1959. The two twin huts are intact and up to date. Shell/BP also donated the Mombasa Holiday house to Starehe Boys Centre in 1964 for use by the Starehe students as a holiday camp.

The Managing Committee governs the school. Since the inception of Starehe Boys Centre, the Managing Committee has been a position reserved by Shell Kenya, now Vivo Energy Kenya.
Vivo Energy Kenya is currently sponsoring twelve students at the school through their four years of secondary school.
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Starehe Boys Centre is an academic giant in Kenya that has constantly produced top scholars across Kenya and the world at large. The institution ranks among the best and top-performing schools in Kenya. It is widely known as a center for academically talented and needy boys. The school offers homely support and a holistic education founded on principles such as discipline, multi-religious character formation, and leadership development.

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true" - Dr. Geoffrey Griffins (1933- 2005)