We are thrilled to launch our bi-monthly newsletter, HHS Alumni Link, your official connection to the Hospital Hill Primary School alumni community.

Whether you've just left HHS or graduated decades ago, this newsletter is designed to keep you informed, engaged, and connected to the place where it all began.

As the HHS Alumni Steering Committee, our mission is straightforward: to cultivate a strong and vibrant alumni network.

We want to celebrate your achievements, share stories about your journeys, and provide updates on the exciting developments taking place at Hospital Hill School.

In each bi-monthly edition, you can look forward to features such as Alumni Spotlights, School Updates, "Remember When?" stories, Upcoming Events & Reunions, and Opportunities to Give Back.

We believe that the bonds formed at Hospital Hill Primary School are lasting, and we hope this newsletter will serve as a bridge to keep those connections alive and thriving.

Thank you for being a part of the HHS alumni family. We look forward to sharing this journey with you!

HHS Alumni Steering Committee.

Alumni spotlight

Do you remember the gentle rustle of leaves along Mamlaka Road or the comforting shade of Parklands’ old trees? 

Or the comforting shade of the old trees in Parklands? 

These familiar places hold the very heart of Hospital Hill School's story, a story inspired by a mother's love and a community's resilience. It begins in 1949, during a time when Kenya was still under British colonial rule and society was deeply divided along racial lines. 

In this climate of segregation and suspicion, one couple dared to imagine a different future.

John Karmali, a Kenyan of Ismaili descent, and his English wife, Joan Karmali, were pioneers in every sense of the word. Their interracial marriage was itself a quiet act of defiance against the rigid social norms of the time. 

But their most audacious contribution came in the form of Hospital Hill Primary School. It was a school founded on the radical belief that children of all races could learn, play, and grow together.

Colonial Kenya was often described as a “mini-South Africa,” with strict racial hierarchies and separate institutions for Europeans, Asians, and Africans. 

The Karmalis envisioned a space where colour would not define opportunity, and where bi-racial children like theirs could get a chance at a good education. They believed that education could be a bridge, not a barrier.

A place where children could form relationships, unburdened by prejudice. Where learning could be rooted in shared humanity.

Hospital Hill Primary School was Kenya’s first multi-racial school, and its founding was met with both admiration and resistance. The Karmalis’ vision was seen as “brave, successful, but also doomed” by some, given the entrenched divisions of the time. 

Yet, against the odds, the school flourished. It became a beacon of hope, drawing families who believed in the possibility of a more inclusive Kenya.
As Kenya moved toward independence in the 1960s, Hospital Hill’s mission gained new relevance.

The country was beginning to reimagine itself, and the school’s commitment to unity and excellence resonated with a generation hungry for change. Alumni from those formative years often speak of the school as a place where they first learned to dream. 

It was a safe place where they were encouraged to ask questions, challenge assumptions, and believe in their own potential.

Over the decades, Hospital Hill Primary School has evolved, but its core values have remained intact. It consistently ranks among Nairobi County’s top public schools.

The school’s reputation for academic rigour and swimming excellence is matched by its emphasis on character, community service, and cultural awareness.

But perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Hospital Hill’s journey is its quiet resilience. The school has remained true to its founding spirit.
In August 2023, that spirit was rekindled in a new and deeply personal way.

Following the passing of Mr. Njoroge, our beloved former headmaster, a WhatsApp group named Hospital Hill Community was created. 

What began as a gesture of condolence quickly blossomed into something extraordinary. Alumni from the 1960s to the early 2000s joined the group, reconnecting across generations and continents.

This digital gathering culminated in the first alumni get-together that December, a warm, laughter-filled BBQ that felt more like a homecoming than a reunion.

From that event emerged a steering committee with a bold mandate: to form a formal alumni association that would serve as a vehicle for supporting and building the school.

Plans are underway for mentorship programs that connect alumni with current students and an endowment fund to support learners from vulnerable backgrounds.

Moreover, fundraisers for construction and maintenance projects will ensure the school’s facilities match its aspirations. 

The alumni association aims to serve as a bridge between the past and present, memory and action, legacy and future.

For current students, this renewed alumni energy is a gift. It offers not just financial support, but living proof that their school is part of a larger story. A story that spans decades and continents, and one in which they are now authors.

For alumni, it is an opportunity to give back, to reconnect, and to honour the place that helped shape their lives.

As we celebrate Hospital Hill’s legacy, we also look to the future. It serves as a model for what public education can achieve when guided by a clear vision, hard work, and community support.

And now, with its alumni stepping forward, it is poised to enter a new chapter, one defined by collaboration, continuity, and care.

Remember the joyous sounds of our HHS swimming pool? The cheers, the splashes, the thrill of our first races. It wasn't just a pool; it was where we learned teamwork, resilience, and the joy of achievement.

It's where champions were born and memories were made, memories that still resonate within us today.

Now, that cherished pool, the heart of our shared history, needs our help. Time has aged it, and we envision a revitalised space: modern changing rooms, a functioning pump room, new diving boards, and spectator bleachers.

Imagine future HHS students creating their own unforgettable moments in a pool we restored. To achieve this, we need to raise Ksh. 2.5 million shillings.

This is more than just a renovation; it's about preserving the spirit of HHS. Join us in this vital endeavour. Share this message, reconnect with classmates, and contribute what you can.

Let's show the world the enduring strength of our community. 

Do you have a story we should feature in the next newsletter?

Contact the communications team:

WhatsApp - +254 720 783 632

Email - [email protected]

HHS Alumni Steering Committee