KIKUYU, Kenya- President William Ruto has hailed Alliance High School for reaching its 100-year milestone, calling the institution a symbol of discipline, excellence, and enduring values that have shaped generations of Kenyans.
Speaking during the school’s centenary celebrations, President Ruto said the legacy of Alliance High School, fondly known as “Bush,” offers lessons for the nation.
“Very few institutions are privileged to mark 100 years of continuous existence. Fewer still do so while remaining faithful to their founding ideals. Alliance High School stands tall among that rare and distinguished company,” he said.
The President emphasized the importance of high standards, discipline, and consistent excellence.
“From the very beginning, Alliance set the bar high and kept it there. Ambition without standards is merely an illusion. If Kenya is to realise her full potential, we must demand the highest possible standards of ourselves—in our classrooms, public service, enterprise, and citizenship,” he said.
As part of celebrating 100 years of Alliance High School, I had the honour of launching various projects that will boost the teaching and learning programme at the premier institution.
President Ruto also highlighted the school’s commitment to discipline and hard work, noting that talent alone is not enough.
“Talent is abundant. Ideas are plentiful. What has often been tested is the discipline required to execute them consistently, diligently, and faithfully,” he said.
He linked this principle to his administration’s achievements over the past three years, including the construction of thousands of affordable housing units, expansion of health coverage to nearly 30 million Kenyans, and reforms in agriculture and education.
“True excellence is neither situational nor episodic. It is habitual. It is who you are when supervision is absent and when recognition is uncertain,” he said, urging all Kenyans to embrace the quiet virtues that build enduring institutions.
The President described Alliance High School as an institution that teaches students not just what to think, but how to think, how to stand for themselves, cherish their families, protect their communities, and contribute meaningfully to the nation and humanity at large.
“National institutions such as Alliance High School are enduring symbols of our collective pride and shared aspiration. They belong to all Kenyans, and it is our shared responsibility to protect their legacy and uphold their standards,” President Ruto said.
He congratulated the entire Alliance community—past, present, and future—urging students and alumni to live up to the school motto: “Strong to Serve.”
He expressed confidence that the school will continue to inspire excellence for generations to come, proving that institutions built on enduring values can indeed stand the test of time.
