Dr. Josephine Sitati during her retirement party held at Kitale School Girls'. Photo: Courtesy.
After 34 years of impacting lives with chalks, Dr. Josephine Sitati bows out, transferring the mantle to young teachers, to continue with the unique basic noble service to thousands of children in Kenya.
Despite leaving the education fraternity in the midst of widening crisis, the retired Deputy Principal of Kitale School Girls, leaves head high and a satisfied soul, after three decades of bring change through education.
Speaking during her farewell party at Kitale School, She acknowledges her noble service to humanity that began in Embu County, where she taught close to two years at Kirimeri Secondary School, previously known as Embu Municipality.
“After 34 years in noble service of education, it is time to say goodbye to the chalks, the bells, the assembly and staffroom debates and to begin a new chapter in life,” she emotionally said.
Sitati acknowledged her journey not just on salary basis, but an opportunity to instill knowledge, growth and taking responsibility to shaping lives, which shaped her life and her image before her students, as a mentor, a coach, and later sailed her to the ranks of a Deputy principal.
Her passion of co-curriculum activity opening a new chapter in her career, according her an opportunity to serve in the county Scouting section, where she aid discipline an resilience were their guiding principle.
Narrating her moments of seeing students excel in hockey as their coach, and expressing societal values through drama, are moments the retired teacher says makes her proud in her teaching career.
“These moments were legacies and emotional,” she posed.
Before transition to Kitale School Girls, Sitati taught at St. Monica’s Girls’ High School for 25 years. She described that the four years as a Deputy Principal at the school was filled with a lot of team work, resilience and great progress, which saw the school overall mean score rise 7.35 in 2024, from 5.7 in 2021.
“This upward trend was not coincidental, it was a result of collective efforts, commitment and shared mission,” she proudly stated.
Echoing and commending her contribution in the education sector in Trans Nzoia County, KUPPET representative singled out her drive for student success, delivery of quality education, and a unique style of instilling discipline among students.
Dr. Calistus Wekesa, commended Sitati’s efforts in ensuring students receive medical attention on time, with their long working relationship at Tuwan Mission Hospital.
“She was best, not only a teacher, but cared for the girls like her children. Her commitment is unmatched. I learned from her focus and consistence in the course,” Wekesa said.
Her colleague teachers, mentored by her, could not hide their emotions and expressing their joy for the indelible mark she will be living in the sector, hoping to scaling through her ranks. Their plea to the Kenya Kwanza government to end the confusion currently witnessed in the sector, to sustain education already in limbo.
For madam Sitati, it was not about what gets into her bank account at the end of the month for the 34 years, but what impact she had created to her students.
“As I retire, I do so with a heart full of memories. I might be leaving the front raw, but service and mentorship will never retire,” she remarked.
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