Against odds: Kwale sickle cell warrior who triumphed in KCSE from hospital bed

According to CDC, sickle cell is a genetic condition present at birth, inherited when a child receives two genes-one from each parent-that code for abnormal hemoglobin. [iStockphoto]

Bill Olenyo sat all his 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination papers except practicals at the Kwale sub-county hospital while battling sickle cell anaemia and passed.

Olenyo, 18, was born with the disease and has been in and out of the hospital since he was a child.  He obtained a B grade and now aspires to join Kenyatta University to pursue a medicine course.