A-students from slums, insecurity prone regions tell their stories

Students and teachers celebrate Dennis Peter who scored A at Anestar Boys High School, Nakuru. He was a beneficiary of the school scholarship.  [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Some learners and schools that endured harsh learning environments and a lack of basic resources are among those that posted impressive results in 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.

Schools in Baringo and Nakuru counties that accommodate needy students, particularly those from informal settlements, recorded strong performances in the 2025 KCSE examinations.

Schools such as Barpelo High, Kolowa High, Kipnai Secondary, Maron High and Kinyach Secondary in Tiaty performed well despite facing challenges including banditry.

Kolowa High School principal Erastus Madiangiro said the school had 129 candidates, 128 of whom scored C+ and above. “Parents, teachers and learners worked together to achieve these results,” he said.

Kinyach Secondary School presented 32 candidates and attained a mean score of 8.2. The school recorded a 100 per cent transition to university.

Maron High, which had 87 candidates, posted a mean score of 8.7. One candidate scored an A–, while 20 attained B+, 32 B plain, 29 B– and five C+.

In Nakuru County, Charles Gichuhi, from Mazembe in the Rhonda slums, scored an A– (78 points) at Langa Langa Mixed Day Secondary School.

“Life is tough in the slums. I want to study Software Engineering at Kenyatta University,” said Gichuhi.

William Nyariki, also from Rhonda, scored an A– (75 points).

“I did not expect to excel because balancing classwork and household chores is difficult. I also live in a slum where many youths are trapped in gangs and crime,” he said.

Nyariki hopes to join the University of Nairobi to study Architecture.

Langa Langa Day Secondary School principal Rufina Nkonge said the institution supports learners who struggle to raise Sh5,200 per term for lunch.

“Most of them survive solely on the meals provided at school because they come from needy families,” she said.

Out of 542 candidates who sat the KCSE examination at the school, 179 scored C+ and above, with the institution posting a mean grade of 5.6.

“We accommodate everyone from the informal settlements. Maintaining discipline is a challenge, and some learners walk more than 10 kilometres to school every day,” she said.

At Meru School, 1,200 learners come from vulnerable backgrounds. Principal Mwenda Rutere said the school had put in place measures to support such learners. Some of the students overcame immense challenges to excel.

Abdallah Mohamed is among the 69 out of 545 candidates who scored straight As. He told The Standard that he was devastated by the death of his father in March last year. Mohamed, who hopes to pursue medicine, said the school’s support, including thorough examination preparation, played a key role in his success.

Emmanuel Okinyi from Lamu nearly dropped out of school due to a large fee balance but, with support, managed to score a B+.

Caleb Mutugi, who also comes from a financially challenged family, attained a straight A.

Emmanuel Sikuku, from Bumula Constituency, scored an A (83 points) at Maranda High School. He said his academic journey had been difficult, particularly due to school fees challenges.

“My parents do not have stable jobs. I relied on the Wangamati Scholarship Programme in Bungoma for my secondary education, but I was later dropped,” he said.

His dream is to study at Oxford University. “It is an institution I have dreamed of since primary school,” he said.

Allan Baraka from Bungoma High scored an A. He hopes to study medicine at the University of Nairobi. “I want to give back to society by treating patients who cannot afford medical care,” he said.

Sharlin Wakala, a student at Bunyore Girls High, also scored an A despite depending on well-wishers to finance her education.

“My mother does odd jobs, and the little she earns barely covers food. My dream is to study medicine,” she said.

David Otieno, who was raised by a single mother, scored an A (84 points) at Mbita High School in Homa Bay. He faced school fees challenges due to his mother’s financial difficulties.

“I was eager to learn, but my mother could not afford the school fees. Through the support of my principal, Mr Kennedy Ojijo, I was able to continue my studies and sit the exams,” Otieno said.

Report by Yvonne Chepkwony, Jackline Inyanji, Daniel Chege, James Omori and Phares Mutembei