KCPE giants who beat myriad of challenges to become top of the cream

**Mercy Anyango, a disabled candidate is celebrated by her teachers at Kibos Primary school in Kisumu.** [Collins Oduor, Standard]

Several candidates beat all the odds to post good scores in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.

David Wanjohi, a candidate with a heart problem, scored 396 marks.

The boy, who sat his KCPE exam at Good Shepherd Academy in Kerugoya, received his exam results while in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Tenwek Mission Hospital in Bomet County where he was referred to last week from a Nakuru hospital.

As Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha released KCPE results, Nakuru East police commander Elena Kabukuru sat by Wanjohi’s bed, this time wearing the hat of a mother.

Kabukuru says his son’s performance came as a surprise, considering the challenges he faced while sitting the exams.

“I was by his bedside when the results were announced. He is still on oxygen and got into a jovial mood after I showed him the results. He did the exam while in great pain but I am glad that he managed,” said Kabukuru.

Abigael Makena, the girl who scored 425 marks, recalled how she had tough time in the exams. She sat the exam a few weeks after her father’s death.

Reality of life

As she received her result slip from Gilgil Hills Academy headteacher, Peter Mwangi on Friday, Makena broke down, but still thanked God for her achievement.

She said although it has not been easy since her father’s death in a road accident last year, she was ready to face the reality of life when she joins high school.

Makena, who wants to become a surgeon, hopes to join Alliance Girls High School or Pangani Girls High School in Nairobi.

Makena’s mother, Lucy Kinya said it has not been easy for the family since the demise of her husband, but admitted having seen the hand of God.

Mercy Anyango, is another student who confesses that it was a miracle to have scored 364 marks.

The 16-year-old, revealed she temporarily dropped out of school after being paralysed and a few days to her exams, her father died.

“It has been traumatising. It has taken time for me to accept my father died. Further, I am still trying to come to terms with the fact that I cannot walk. I hope I will get treated and recover one day,” said Anyango, who was a pupil at Kibos Primary School in Kisumu East.

Her mother Anjeline Atieno had mixed reactions.

“It is good that she has done her bit and has done well in her exams. I am happy. But there is another hurdle; paying her secondary school fees. I depend on menial jobs to take care of my seven children,” said Atieno.

Anyango hopes to join Rangala Girls High School in Siaya County. Her dream is to become a nurse.

Meshack Nyesi broke the record as the first candidate to score above 400 marks in KCPE at Kibos Primary School.

The former street boy, who scored 410 marks, was yesterday lifted shoulder-high as the school celebrated the outstanding achievement.

By 2009, Nyesi had lost both parents and was left under the care of his grandmother at Gem Yalla village in Siaya County.

And in 2010, life became unbearable and opted for street life.

One day in 2012, a religious organisation, Ebenezer Christian, visited street children to provide them with food and counselling.

“After the counselling session, they asked if any of us would wish to be enrolled in school,” said Nyesi.

And in early 2013, he was enrolled at Kibos Primary School in Standard One.

“I was the oldest, and my fellow students mocked me, and made fun of me. I had been hardened by the street life and I chose to ignore them,” he said.

School head Millie Aneya said Nyesi had made the community proud, and had the potential of scoring even higher marks.

Gnete Aseka, a special needs candidate from Daisy Special School in Kakamega, scored 390 marks.

The last born in a family of five, Aseka said her situation and the background of her needy family prompted her to put in more effort.

Aseka says she would like to join Kenya High despite her condition.

Gilbert Kibet, who has a disability, scored 411 marks.

Kibet, the seventh born son among 12 children, hails from Kapkateny ward in Mt Elgon Sub-County.

Bright pupil

Despite being paralysed, Kibet did not give up in life, but kept encouraging himself that he can still make it despite being physically disabled.

He sat his exams at Nalondo CBM Special School in Kabuchai constituency, Bungoma County.

Nalondo CBM Special School head teacher Aggrey Waliaro said Kibet was a bright pupil.

Lorah Achieng’ Osicho, 14, from The Makueni School, overcame many other challenges to triumph in KCPE. She pulled off a surprise despite undergoing a spinal fusion and had stayed away from school for almost in a whole year

Osicho scored 401 marks out of the possible 500 marks with straight A’s in all subjects.

The second born child in a family of 4 says that although she crossed the 400 mark, she was disappointed by what she described as such a “dull” performance regardless of what she went through for the past one year.

“I expected a better performance, but when I saw what the top girl had scored, I lowered my expectations to 415. I am delighted,” said Osicho.

[Report by Kennedy Gachuhi, Ben Ahenda, Kevine Omollo, Kepher Otieno, Benard Lusigi, Stephen Nzioka and Micah Sali]