Academies eclipse public schools in Nyanza

Nyanza's academic stars and private schools were the toast of the region as several institutions registered exemplary results in this year's Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam.

There were massive celebrations across the region after it produced several pupils with 420 marks and above. It was song and dance as pupils, teachers and parents from several private and public schools celebrated their children's performance.

The region produced the third-best pupils nationally while several others also registered commendable results.

Keith Nimrod Ochieng of Golden Elites Academy in Kisumu and Julius Chacha of Momokoro Academy in Migori shared the top slot in the region with 429 marks, two marks behind the top students nationally who scored 431.

Ochieng was all smiles as he told journalists of his dream of joining Alliance High School.

"My goal was to score over 400 marks and I'm proud that I have achieved it. Now another journey has begun and the goal is to get to be a neurosurgeon," he said.

In Kisumu, celebrations rocked Golden Elites Academy, Xaverian Primary, Maseno Girls Boarding and Hekima School to celebrate the exemplary results posted by the learners.

There were also celebrations in Migori, Kisii and Nyamira counties where a number of top performers carried the names of their institutions high.

Golden Elites Academy produced at least 25 candidates with 400 marks and above.

Momokoro Academy in Kuria West Sub-county, which has been topping Migori County, had a mean score of 395, with 23 students getting over 400 marks.

Massive celebrations also rocked Xaverian Primary School, which produced 14 pupils with 400 marks and above.

At the institution, Carl Baraka emerged among the top candidates in Kisumu County with 423 marks.

"I am grateful to the teachers and my parents for guiding me through my studies, and we are happy to have been able to put the school's name on the map. The job is not yet done because now we have to conquer secondary school too," said the 14-year-old Baraka.

Xaverian Primary School headteacher George Polo believes most of his candidates will be admitted to national schools.

"We thank God for our good results," he said.

Maseno Girls Boarding Primary School also registered exemplary results after producing 27 students with 400 marks and above. The top pupil at the school - Renee Atieno Agola - got 422 marks.

The school had a mean score of 373.47 and was among the top performers of the region.

At Hekima School, Nigel Ciqala bagged 421 marks, just as Ayieko Amy and Emmanuela Odhiambo from Maseno Girls.

Ciqala, who said he had hoped for 450 marks and above, said he is privileged to lead a group of hardworking classmates as he aims higher in the future.

Hekima School headteacher Peter Okello said he is thrilled with the performance, which is a huge step towards achieving their goal of becoming a top school in Kisumu County.

MM Shah, a public primary school, produced two pupils with 412 marks each - Colonel Wilson Amunga and Jacob Jeremy.

In Homa Bay, Ober Boys Primary registered 18 pupils with 400 marks and above. The top candidate got 424 marks while the school attained a mean score of 360.27.

Janeiro Junior Academy in Rangwe Sub-county demonstrated excellent performance with a mean score of 385.1.

The top student in the school, Odemba Andrew, got 418 marks while the last candidate, John Odhiambo, got 324.

School headteacher Philip Aduda attributed the excellent performance to unity among parents and teachers.

"We trained our candidates to be diligent. We thank the school management for creating a conducive environment for our students learn," said Mr Aduda.

In Kisii and Nyamira, private schools once again posted better results than public institutions.

In Nyamira, Royal Metropolis Academy claimed the top spot, edging out perennial giants Eronge Adventist Boarding Primary.

The school recorded a mean score of 380 and produced the second-best KCPE candidate in Nyamira County, Derrick Barongo Mironga, who scored 415 marks.

The second candidate from the school, Bevy Bosibori Mong, scored 413 marks while Nikol Laura Nyaberi managed 407.

Eronge Adventist, which produced the best candidate with 418 marks had 36 out of 250 students scoring over 400 marks.

St Andrews Kagwa Boys had a mean score of 370, with its best candidate, Omboga Japhet Marietta, scoring 407 marks.

In Kisii, Imperial Primary School with a total of 55 candidates had a mean score of 395.76.

The school produced the county's second-best candidate; Wayne Moseti Nyaberi, with 429 marks.

A total of 24 candidates had 400 marks and above with the least having 362. School Headteacher Walter Onuokha said they have registered a positive deviation of eight points from the 2021 performance.

At Tracer Preparatory School in Kitutu Central, four pupils scored 400 marks and above, with the leading candidate getting 410.

Excel Elementary School in Gucha with 81 candidates managed a mean score of 401 with their top candidate, Damaris June Mbuya, scoring 422 marks.

[Stories by Washington Onyango, Daphine Achieng, Eric Abuga, James Omoro, Stanley Ongwae and Anne Atieno]