History

ISK is not merely a story of buildings and inanimate objects. It is a story of people, a story of thousands of students who have passed through ISK’s corridors, left their mark, and gone on to achieve their goals around the world. It is a story of dedicated teachers, administrators, parents and board members who have given their time and energy to make ISK what it is today.

Please click here to view ISK's journey through the years.

The unique and colorful history of ISK extends back to 1967 when Nancy Ellen Crooks founded the US Community School in a house near the Nairobi Hospital. Well known for her passion for education, Mrs. Crooks became the first principal and was dedicated to meeting the educational needs of expatriate and Kenyan children in Nairobi.

In 1970, the United States International University (USIU) bought the school from the Crooks family and moved it to our current location, a coffee plantation at the end of Peponi Road. They renamed it Nairobi International School (NIS) and Grades were expanded from 4th grade to 12th grade and even college courses were offered. The original buildings consisted only of a white wooden house and two stone buildings; the potential for a school like ISK was evident.

On August 17, 2016, ISK marked 40 years of service to students and the Kenyan community.

The colorful ceremony on campus was graced by dignitaries from the US Embassy and Canadian High Commission. Our Key Note speaker John Sibi-Okumu delivered a great speech that highlighted his fond memories of ISK as both a parent and teacher. The celebration ended with a grand performance by one of Africa's most celebrated bands, Sauti Sol.

To celebrate 40 years of education excellence and service to Kenya, ISK and Sauti Sol joined forces to strengthen our respective community service programmes in Kenya. At ISK, service learning, through participation in community outreach activities, is an integral part of the academic learning experience, and aims to build recognition of human interdependence while cultivating both personal and community growth. The Soma Soma Initiative (SSI) is Sauti Sol’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative. Its mission is to inspire youth to get an education — Sauti Sol believes that education is the answer to much of Kenya’s and Africa’s problems, and advocates for education for all youth.

The partnership was based on areas of shared interest, and initially focused on the the important relation between education and creativity. For Sauti Sol, ISK students served as additional resources to spread their messages on the importance of education in the pursuit of careers in the creative arts. For ISK students, participating in peer-to-peer talks in collaboration with Sauti Sol was a phenomenal learning experience creating a lasting memory of their time at ISK and the importance of continued community service.

Here are some of the moments captured during the 40th Anniversary event.