When I reinstated Doctor Reverend Apostle Elkana, the Principal Superintendent of The Holiest of All Ghosts (THOAG) Tabernacle Assembly Sanctuary, as the official sponsor of our school, I had no doubt that it was going to be of benefit to Mwisho wa Lami Comprehensive School. Over time, on matters of education, Apostle Elkana has stood head and shoulders above other clergymen, including sponsors of other schools who only show up for celebrations.
Apostle Elkana is always involved in all key school events and milestones, regularly visits the school, and is very concerned about the school’s performance. While I knew all this—hence my decision to appoint him—I expected him to be felt more next term.
However, if what Apostle did and showed in the last week of this term is anything to go by, I can categorically state that next term, this school will go places.
A day after he received official communication that he would be the sponsor the school, he visited me at school, ostensibly to be updated on what had been happening during his absence. He also suggested that we have a school prayer day the following Friday and wondered if we could make it a weekly event. While I was okay with a school prayer day, I suggested we do it monthly instead, but he insisted on weekly prayers. After a long discussion, we agreed that he would start, and we would decide on the frequency next term.
I had no issue allowing him to come for the prayer day that Friday. Usually, when the school is about to close, there is a lot of idleness, so anything that can keep students engaged is welcome. Apostle Elkana did not disappoint. He arrived early, and after the parade, he led a service that went well past 9.30am. No one complained since there were no morning classes anyway. Of course, it ended with a request for sadaka, which he said he intended to use to buy a motorcycle to spread the gospel further.
"I am opening branches all over the country and would wish to come here frequently. A motorcycle will help me access all places easily," he said while reading from the scriptures.
"If there's anything the school can do to support me, it's by contributing towards purchasing a motorcycle to facilitate my movements," he told me after the prayers. As usual, he was in no hurry—until I gave him some sadaka of Sh100.
Before he left, he announced that, as a way of supporting the school further, he would be taking up the church seat on the school Board of Management. I told him that we wouldn’t be making changes to the School Board of Management (BOM) since the current members’ terms had not elapsed.
"I know that, Dre," he said. "But remember that Anindo represents the church, and I am the one who nominated her. I will be taking over that seat myself."
"Don’t worry about that. You don’t have to write anything to TSC. Let Anindo remain in the documents, but I will be a BOM member representing the church," he insisted.
We had a restful weekend, and since last week was the final week of the term, it was bound to be slow. So, I did not go to school early on Monday. When I arrived at school, no teacher had arrived, so I went straight to the office, planning to emerge at 10.00am for a meeting I had called. Someone knocked on my door a few minutes later. It was Apostle Elkana, and not wanting any interference, I waved my hand to indicate that I was busy and couldn’t talk. He left.
"This Apostle of Dre is getting too much," said Lena, her bad hair in tow. "He’s not even a board member. Who is he to supervise us?"
"He arrived and has been walking from class to class, checking which teacher is in the classroom. If there’s no teacher, he calls the concerned one."
"If he tries calling me, he’ll find out who I really am!" said Saphire, who had not been in school for weeks. "Even if he were a board member or the chairman, he has no business getting involved in the school’s day-to-day management," he added. "That happens when you have a weak Head of Institution."
"Dre was bought for 10 shillings! Imagine, just 10 shillings!"
"Apostle Elkana gave him Sh400 to go to Cosmos Bar on his 40th birthday. That is 10 shillings for every year he has lived. Imagine 10 shillings. He has been singing Elkana’s name ever since."
"What?!" exclaimed Saphire. "This is serious. Does TSC know about this? This is corruption and bribery of the highest level."
"Let’s bring up this matter during the meeting. Apostle Elkana has no right to supervise us," said Sell.
"Forget about the meeting. This must reach TSC. I get reported to TSC for flimsy things; I will be writing to TSC about this. Heads must roll."
I had heard enough, so I left my office, and walked to the staffroom. Everyone was shocked to see me, and they all went quiet, surprised that I had been around and listened to everything.
"Oh, welcome back, Saphire!" I exclaimed, greeting him. "Where have you been?" I asked, as if I expected a plausible reason.
He was too shocked he could not say anything, except blubber a greeting. Soon, I called the meeting to order, and we went through the discussions one by one. No one raised the issue of Apostle Elkana, and when I mentioned that the Apostle would be invited to pray for us as we close the term, not a single person raised a finger.
