At least 13 top candidates in last year's Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations will study medicine at the University of Nairobi (UoN).

Two others have been placed at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) to study engineering courses.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placed Lesley Loise Wanjiku and Jelimo Debrah at JKUAT to study mechatronic engineering. They both sat their KCSE exams at The Kenya High School.

The top boy in the national examinations, Simiyu Robin Wanjala, who managed a mean score of 87.334 at Murang'a High School will study bachelor of surgery at UoN.

The top girl nationally, Sharon Chepngeno Terer, who posted a mean score of 87.173 at The Kenya High School, will pursue bachelor of dental surgery at UoN.

Wasonga Allan Udoma, a former student at Agoro Sare High School who ranked second nationally, will study bachelor of surgery at UoN.

Moriasi Bob Bryson Ongare, formally of Alliance High School, will as well study surgery at UoN. He emerged fourth nationally with a mean score of 87.139.

Mbugua Esther Wachuchu, who sat the exams at The Kenya High and was ranked fifth nationally with a score of 87.113 points, will study pharmacy at UoN.

However, Kipkoech Mark Kogo, a former Alliance High School student who was ranked sixth nationally with a mean score of 87.106, has been placed at UoN for a Bachelor of Science (Biology) degree.

The analysis also shows Kenneth Oranga, of Kapsabet Boys, who was ranked seven nationally with a score of 87.049 points, will also pursue surgery at UoN.

Henry Madaga of Maranda High School and Chepkorir Patience of The Kenya High School, who tied at position eight nationally with a mean score of 87.046 points, have also been selected to study surgery at UoN. The two will sit in the bachelor of surgery class alongside Musomba Edith Kithei, a former Machakos Girls student, who was tenth nationally with a score of 87.013 points.

Pile Ron George, of Kapsabet Boys, will pursue computer science as both Kiprono Howard (Maranda High) and Buluma Daizy Nerima (Kenya High) pursue surgery at UoN.

Overall, KUCCPS data shows UoN will admit 360 of the 869 top students who scored grade A. JKUAT will take 175.

Kenyatta University (KU) will admit 113 as Technical University of Kenya takes in 27 and Moi University 71.

Mount Kenya University and Kenya Methodist University will each admit 13 the grade A students.

Dedan Kimathi University of Technology and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology will each admit nine students while Kisii University and Uzima University will each get eight. Kabarak University will admit five.

Technical University of Mombasa, University of Eldoret, Multimedia University of Kenya, Kenya Highlands Evangelical University, University of Eastern Africa, Baraton and Amref International University will each get one grade A student.

Meanwhile, one of the students who emerged as the most improved candidates in last year’s KCSE, Hassan Abdullahi Osman who scored 168 marks in KCPE and managed a mean grade B–, will study economics and finance at Kabarak University.

Cheruiyot Bett Dennis, who scored 190 marks in KCPE and managed grade B– in KCSE, will pursue bachelor of education at Kirinyaga University.

Maluti Tom Miti, who only managed 199 marks in KCPE but posted mean grade of B–, will pursue Bachelor of Science in information technology at University of Eldoret.

Kipes Siomit Charity, who had 151 marks in KCPE and managed a C+ in KCSE, will study bachelor of agricultural education and extension at Laikipia University.

The UoN will aslo admit Musharaf Kerow Adan, who scored 140 marks in KCPE and got  C+ in KCSE. The student will study Bachelor of Science.

Siololo Parmaari Joseph, who scored 186 marks in KCPE and managed grade B– in KCSE, will study bachelor of tourism management at Chuka University.

aoduor@standardmedia.co.ke