Kapsabet, Kabarak top as Rift Valley giants shine

The school registered a mean of 9.87, with 30 As and 116 A-, a slight drop from last year when it posted a mean of 10.021.

The results triggered celebrations, with teachers, students and parents breaking into song and dance.

Kabarak Principal Elsheba Cheruiyot attributed the results to discipline, hard work and teamwork. “Our 2019 team of 330 students who we had named ‘The Lions’, have done us proud. They have triumphed among academic giants,” Mrs Cheruiyot said.

Kizito Shikaya, father of Ezra Kizito, said his son proved that age did not matter. “He has done all of us very proud, and he will join university and pursue a course of his choice,” said Mr Shikaya.

Kazungu Hilary Neel (below), with A- of 79 points at Kabarak, said a combination of trust in God, support from family, his mother’s incessant prayers plus hard work made him excel. “I thank God,” he said.

Felix Too, who scored A- of 74 points at the same school, attributed his success to dedication of his teachers and parents. “I achieved my target because of the hard work teachers and my parents put in,” he said.

Last year, 152 students scored above A- with 29 setting the pace with A.

At Kapsabet Boys, the school routinely identifies a code name immediately Form One students join.

The code name for the 2019 class was ‘The Champions’, which came true in yesterday’s results. They beat last year’s class codenamed ‘Spartans’, registering 26 As.

When the results were announced yesterday, teachers, led by Chief Principal Kipchumba Maiyo, as well as parents and locals, celebrated the exemplary performance with a victory lap on the busy streets of Kapsabet town.

“The secret to our success is hard work, commitment among parents, teachers, board of management and students. We ensure real teaching and our candidates completed the syllabus early enough to allow them time to do private revision and group work,” said Mr Maiyo.

He was happy that the school produced the leading candidate in the country. “The ‘Champions’ was a stronger class. We expected better performance. The good results is a morale boost to the class of 2020,” he said.

The teacher said the top student was among the top 20 KCPE pupils in 2015, and that he had been disciplined, focused and humble, besides always being among the top 10 performers in his class.

Maiyo said the candidates who scored As had been in a fierce competition throughout the four years.

At Moi Girls School, Eldoret, there was celebration after 21 candidates scored straight As.

It was song and dance in the school when the results were announced, indicating improved performance.

Ecstatic teachers attributed the stellar performance to what they described as unwavering determination among parents and teachers to produce the best results out of the school’s 351 candidates.

The school’s Deputy Principal Henry Kimng’ok, who last evening led teachers in celebrations, said the secret to the institution’s performance was early coverage of syllabus and mentorship of students.

There was celebration at Moi Forces Academy in Lanet, Nakuru County as well, after it produced one of the country’s top candidates. Iileen Chelang’at topped the class with A of 84 points and was among the top 10 nationally.

The 17-year-old attributed the score to her hard work, dedicated parents and teachers who walked with her in her academic journey.

Other schools that registered good scores include Nakuru Girls, Nakuru Boys, Bahati Girls and Anaster Boys.

(Report by Caroline Chebet, Mercy Kahenda, Titus Too, Stephen Rutto and Fred Kibor)