[3] Starehe Boys' Centre and School educates at least 70% of its students free, and the rest at a reduced rate.

The entrance process uses results from the national KCPE exams and prefers to award school places to those who show academic potential.

The first 17 boys entered the school from Kariokor Rescue Centre, Nairobi, and it was established in two tin huts donated by Kenya Shell and BP in 1959.

The name "Starehe" is Swahili for 'Tranquility', 'Peace', or 'Comfort', signifying a place where orphaned boys could find solace in its humble beginnings.

The school uniform is blue short trousers and red shirt, worn with a black tie and blazer or wind-breaker.

Starehe hosts an annual football grudge match against Lenana School immediately before Founders' Day Dinner.

Students perform daily duties that include cleaning their dormitories and the school compound as well as classes and laboratories.

[5] When corporal punishment was legal in Kenya, only the Director was allowed to use the cane at Starehe.

In 1994–1996 it raised over £1M through the Aim High Appeal to establish an endowment fund in the UK for the Centre.