Some of the top students in the recently released KCSE, who spoke with Citizen TV’s JKLive on Wednesday, shared nearly identical stories of overcoming adversity to reach the top.
Esther Wacuka, who is from Githurai 45 and took her exams at a little-known school—Kwangethe secondary school—told Citizen TV that she lost her father shortly after COVID-19 struck, calling her plans to attend high school into question.
According to Wacuka, who aspires to study cardiology at Oxford University, her mother earned only Ksh.300 by cleaning clothes in the neighbourhood and was unable to raise her tuition.
She attributed her A plain grade of 75 points to, among other things, her school principal, who allowed her to stay in school when she was unable to pay her tuition.
When things got tough, Wacuka says she skipped school lunches and instead packed it to share with her family at home.
Elsewhere, the story of struggle hits too close home for Odhiambo Dickens.
Odhiambo, who took his final exams at Murang’a High School, told Jeff Koinange that he grew up in absolute poverty in Kibra, cared for by his mother, who made ends meet by working menial jobs in the neighbourhood.
He described how he felt doomed after passing his KPCE with flying colours, only to discover that he could not afford to pay for his education.
None of the numerous scholarships he had applied for came through.
He stated that it was only after consulting with a former teacher that he came to Citizen TV, where Vincent Ateya, who was moved by his story, publicised it, resulting in him receiving a sponsorship.
Odhiambo, who aspires to study chemical engineering at Oxford University, admitted that he only arrived at school on time once.
He delayed, sometimes for weeks, because he could not raise his fees after his sponsor dropped out after experiencing financial difficulties in the second year.
And then there is Doris Waithera, who hails from a small commune in Ponda Mali, Nakuru County, and from an even smaller school, Langa Langa Secondary School, where she overcame all odds to score an A of 81 points.
After receiving a diagnosis of myopia, or nearsightedness, shortly after taking her KCPE, Waithera, who had scored 387 points, had set her sights on attending her ideal school, Moi Girls Nyabohanse. However, this dream was put on hold as she had to face additional challenges.
Her father, who made a living by hawking wares in Nakuru, could not raise her fees to her dream school, but according to Waithera, he took up the role of dropping and picking her up from school daily—10 kilometres away—on a 34-year-old Black Mamba bicycle.
She told Citizen TV that she did not have enough room at home to study because she shared a home with her two other siblings: an autistic brother who was cared for by their mother, and a brother who worked as a cook to help supplement the family income.
Because of the tight living conditions, her school principal allowed her to extend her after-school hours, and she would usually leave at 9 p.m. on the back of her father’s bike.
She hopes to study cardiology at the University of Nairobi in order to assist those in her community who are suffering from heart disease.
But perhaps Kamore Muthagania’s story will have you reaching for the paper napkins.
Born in Kinangop, Muithangania recalls his family moving between homes at least 35 times before settling in Kikuyu around 2019.
Muithagania, who scored a perfect 84 points—the best in the country—probably understands adversity better than most. He lost his father shortly after taking his midterm in Form One.
He told Citizen TV that he had no hope of completing school as his mom—a casual labourer—barely made enough to make ends meet.
He said after losing his dad, his big brother took over the role and became his dad, and he always turned up at school on time with packed food during visits.
Muithagania who dreams of pursuing Aeronautical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology say he vowed to work extra hard in school—not for himself, but to put smiles on the faces of his mom and brother, and for his family at Co-operative Bank that made his school journey possible.
