Girl with albinism emerges top in KCPE as girls catch up to boys

Goldalyne Kakuya from St. Ann junior School Lubao, Kakamega County was among the top students in the 2017 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education.

Kakuya scored 455 marks out of a possible 500.  She scored A in all the subjects (99 Maths, 99 Kiswahili, 85 Maths, 88 Science and 84 Social Studies and Religion.)

“I am really honoured to be here celebrating this wonderful news. I expected to do well but not to this extent. It has actually come as a surprise,” she said, dedicating her performance to people who have supported her in her education journey including her parents and school.

According to Education Minister, the 450 marks recorded was an increase from 437 from 2016 results.

“Our highest candidate this year scored 455 marks. You know last year, the top candidate got 437 marks which is a remarkable improvement. In fact, if last year’s top candidate was ranked, they would not even be in the top 20 category this year because we have candidates who have performed very well,” he said.

Kakuya is among the six special needs candidates in the top 100 candidates across the country.  She hopes to be selected to Kenya Girls high school or the M-Pesa Foundation academy. 

As a person interested in anything related to the mind and to listening to the people, she hopes to study psychiatry or psychotherapy when she grows up.

Out of 47 counties, 27 had more girls than boys, with the number of students with more than 400 marks increasing from 5,943 in 2016 to 9,846. Students with less than 100 marks dropped to 2360 in 2016 from 6747 in 2016.

Matiangi assured parent that all students with more than 400 marks will be placed in national schools regardless of whether they were in private or public schools.