Twins top school with 'A' grade, give credit to Standard Group project

Eighteen-year-old twins Ruth Ndanu and Rachel Mumbe both got A at St Mary's Girls Igoji in Meru County. They both want to pursue data engineering. [Phares Mutembei, Standard]

A set of twins emerged top after they attained grade A at St Mary’s Girls, Igoji, in Meru County.

Ruth Ndanu and Rachel Mumbe shed tears of joy, crediting their success to teachers, their parents and the Standard Group’s Newspaper in Education (NIE) programme.

The sister said their good showing did not come as a surprise because they put a lot of effort into their studies.

The 18-year-olds said the school management supported them to the time they sat the examinations. 

“We were in separate classrooms, but we did spend a lot of time in one another’s class to exchange notes,” said Ndanu. 

“Our teachers helped us a lot. The Standard’s NIE helped us, especially to perfect our Insha and composition writing. We never missed the NIE.”

She said the programme empowered them hence their good performance.

They two want to pursue the same course at the university.

“It turns out my sister and I like the same thing. Both of us are going to do data engineering because we recognise that the globe is being driven by technology,” said Ndanu.

The school principal, Florence Mutwiri, heaped praise on the two, saying they were humble and a good example to others.

Humility in success

“The twins were great students. I have never come across such humble characters. These were girls that were not showy, who did not even show that they were topping their class and have now topped KCSE,” said Mutwiri.

“They were invisible but they knew what they were doing. They were study partners.”

Mumbe said their parents and teachers consistently encouraged them to do better, even when their grades were improving all the time.

“I am so happy now that we have seen the result of our hard work. I had expected to do well because of the hard work in studies and cooperation with teachers and other students,” she said.

Their mother is a college teacher while their father is a farmer.

In Embu County, David Tabitha Mutheu made her family proud by scoring a mean of grade A at the Kyeni Girls’ High School. She aspires to pursue a career in medicine and hopes to join the University of Nairobi in her quest to become a doctor.

She attributed her remarkable success to a combination of hard work and discipline.

“The support and encouragement from my family has been a driving force to this accomplishment. I did my best, and I’m very happy,” she said.

Struggle with languages

Mutheu said she has always dreamed of becoming a doctor,  and her exceptional results have only fueled her determination to pursue the passion.

“My dream to be a doctor started when I was a little girl. I remember one day I caught a bird and did an ‘operation’. I want to help people,” she said.

While Mutheu excelled in mathematics, chemistry, biology and physics, she admits that Kiswahili and English weren’t as easy.

“I enjoyed sciences due to my dreams. English and Kiswahili were a bit challenging, but I managed to navigate through the difficulties and achieved remarkable results across all subjects.”

Her sister Loise Mwendwa described her as an obedient girl who was serious with her studies. “She was very hardworking, and we are happy for her results. She has made us proud,” she said.