Dr Isaiah Dau,52, has been appointed as Principal of the Malek Academy. Dau,52, is a sudanese national and speaks four languages - English, Kiswahili, Arabic and Dinka.

The appointment marks something of a homecoming for Dau as was a pupil at the Malek Academy from 1982-1984 before it was destroyed by Civil War.

Dau holds doctor and master of theology degrees and is also a master of divinity. He joins the Academy from the Nairobi Pentecostal Bible College where he was Principal.

Dau said: "I am honoured to be the first Principal of the newly constructed Malek Academy.

"I am working hard to lay the foundations for the Academy to open in September/October 2010 and it will be a particularly emotional moment for me when it does, having been a pupil at the Academy.

"We aim to open with an initial intake of 60 pupils and to build from the Academy from there"