In Kilifi, leadership wears a pleated skirt and a tie. Madam Christine Busolo, the Principal of Kombeni Girls’ High School, has melted hearts across the country by donning full school uniform to welcome the new Grade 10 (Form One) cohort.

Photos of the Principal mingling with students, indistinguishable from her charges save for her authority, have gone viral. "I want them to feel at home," Busolo told Tuko.co.ke. "I want them to know that I am not just an administrator in an office; I am one of them. We are a team."

"She Looks So Smart!"

Parents and netizens have applauded the gesture as a masterstroke in breaking the ice. "This removes the fear factor," commented a parent. "When the Principal wears the uniform, the students wear it with pride."

The move comes as schools grapple with the anxiety of the new CBC transition. By leveling the visual playing field, Busolo has sent a powerful message of humility and solidarity. In a sector often defined by rigid hierarchy, the Principal of Kombeni Girls has shown that sometimes, to lead, you have to dress the part.