Village over the moon as son leads country

A mood of festivity engulfed Mulusiola village in Mumias East Sub-county yesterday after news came in that their village produced the best candidate nationally.

Tony Buluma, who sat his KCSE exams at Kapsabet Boys, was announced the top candidate nationally after scoring a mean grade A of 87.159 points.

Buluma's family members, flanked by neighbours, carried him shoulder high in jubilation. The excited Buluma said he had not expected to top the exams, though he was confident of scoring a straight A.

"I had reasons to believe that I would perform well. But it had never occurred to me that I would come top nationally," he said.

“We were with some friends watching on television the results being announced when I heard my name. I was overwhelmed and just sat silently on the couch for some minutes to absorb the news.”

The 18-year-old said it was when he called his parents, who are in Molo, to break the news to them that it started sinking in.

Visiting grandfather

Buluma was visiting his maternal grandfather in the village after writing his exams last month.

In 2015, he was among the best pupils in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) after scoring 433 marks.

He sat his KCPE examinations at St Thomas Aquinas Njoro Primary School before proceeding to Kapsabet Boys in Nandi County.

Buluma attributed his good results to discipline and hard work, as well as trusting in God. "I spent my time at Kapsabet Boys reading hard. I also interacted well will my fellow students and teachers," he said.

Buluma wants to study medicine at the University of Nairobi. “I really want to be a doctor,” he said.

Agenta Lutta, Buluma's mother, works at a flower firm in Molo. She is a botanical engineer. Dennis Buluma, his father, is a pastor.

Ms Lutta, who spoke via phone, said her firstborn son has surprised the entire family. “Buluma is the first born of my four children. It was a huge surprise to see his name all over the media, we are too excited. We thank God for the good results,” said Lutta.

Buluma's grandfather, John Lutta, was equally ecstatic. “His mother was a bright student too. She went to Egerton University and became an engineer,” he said.