By Phares Mutembei

Seventeen-year-old Velma Namanya Mukhongo cannot hold back her tears of joy after emerging the top girl and fourth overall in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations. Velma’s average mark was 87.17057.

"I am so excited, my dream has come true," she told Generation Next.

The happy girl says her victory did not come easy, as her parents had to struggle to keep her in school.

Velma Nanyama Mukhongo celebrates her victory in style at her home in Sango village, Bungoma, after she received her KCSE results. She was ranked top girl and number four in the country.

READ MORE

 Kisumu City Manager Abala arraigned over forged KCSE papers, Sh8.7m pay fraud

 Police recruitment: Why low KCSE grades translate to poor service

 Wainaina, 79 sits for KCSE after deferring dream for 60 years

 CS announces start of KCSE marking as test is concluded

"My parents sold some sugarcane and paid a fraction of fees. We had to turn to other members of the family for help," reveals Velma.

"My mother is a primary school teacher while my father retired from a sugar company in 2004," she says.

Velma was teaching pupils at Sigalame Primary School when she received the news of her chart topping performance.

"To keep myself occupied and productive, I teach Mathematics, Science and Kiswahili at the school. When I received a phone call from my mother last Tuesday breaking the good news, I screamed and jumped with joy in front of the surprised children!"

Four years ago, Velma scored 440 marks in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination.

Scored As in Sciences

She joined Kenya High School where she always emerged top of her class and form.

The school awarded top students, including Velma, with a trip to Governor Drummer Academy, in Massachusetts, USA recently.

"She was a very responsible student and our environment prefect. We took her and other girls to the USA to expose them to university and boarding school environments there," says Petronilla Mumo, the school deputy headmistress.

For the two months Velma was there, she scored As in the Sciences.

"I want to study medicine at university and work for my country. I advice students to be attentive in class, make use of teachers and work hard. That’s how I made it."

The third born in a family of six, Velma dedicates her victory to all who stood by her, especially her mother.

"My mother put a lot of effort into ensuring I stayed in class. At the back of my mind, I always aimed to do well to give her what she deserves"