Private schools dominated the top positions in the Rift Valley region in the latest Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examination (KCPE) results, which were released yesterday.
Leading the chart in the region were Little Friends Junior Academy in Naivasha, Moi Primary School-Kabarak, Mogotio Little Friends, St. Peter's Elite (Nakuru), Roots Academy, Gilgil Hills Academy, Radiance Academy, Chemitan Academy in Bureti, Kagaki School, and St. Mary's Mixed Primary School in Bomet County, in the South Rift region.
In the North Rift region, Bishop Muge Memorial School and Nandi Hills Primary were among the public schools that produced top candidates in the national exams.
Belinda Jepngetich and Calvin Chepchirchir, both aged 14 and from Bishop Muge Memorial School, tied at 422 marks out of the possible 500 marks in the examination.
56 candidates
At Nandi Hills, Allan Kipruto Bett scored 406 marks, Alloisious Okoth 402, and Kipruto Russel 402. They were among the 56 candidates registered in the school.
At Moi Primary School-Kabarak, 34 candidates scored over 400 marks. Natalie Nasenya, the top candidate, scored 419 marks, followed by Okoth Nicole and Rono Jerome Kibet, who both scored 415 marks.
Immaculate Wacheke of Gilgil Hills Academy, who scored 420 marks, became one of Nakuru County's top KCPE candidates in 2023. The school celebrated her performance as she revealed her aspirations to become a neurosurgeon.
"I am now hopeful to join Alliance Girls, which has been the school of my dreams. My success is due to the support I got from my peers, teachers, and parents," said Wacheke.
There was song and dance at Roots Academy Nakuru as the school celebrated the performance of the last KCPE class, which recorded a stellar performance.
Excellent performance
Over 20 candidates at the school scored over 400 marks in the exam, including Griffin Nagide and Daniel Kiiru, who tied at 419, George Tony, Naomi Biage, and Isaac Maker with 417 marks.
The headteacher, Collins Odhiambo, said the performance in the 2023 KCPE exams was phenomenal and would be remembered in years to come.
The situation was similar at Kagaki School, where 16 candidates scored 400 marks and above, led by Precious Mweru, who scored 415 marks. This achievement was followed by Abed Kogi (412), Fancy Koech (409), and Natalia Wafula (407) marks.
The school director, Prof Mirriam Kinyua, said while the performance was incredible, they had even higher expectations.
"We are glad that our final Standard Eight class has excelled. The class was disciplined and dedicated to their academics and co-curricular activities. As we head to the CBC curriculum, we hope to keep shining," said Prof. Kinyua.
Top school
Little Friends Junior Academy in Naivasha was the highlight of the day after emerging as the top school in Nakuru County.
The private institution produced the top candidate, Myles Muringi, who scored an impressive 421 marks in the national exams, with 18 students registering over 400.
There was jubilation in the school as students and parents joined the school management in celebrating what was described as the best results ever in their history.
The school's headteacher, Simon Wachira, said their mean score had also risen from 374 to 379 marks, attributing the success to hard work and dedication.
"We are ranked as one of the best schools in Naivasha, with 18 out of 87 students scoring 400 marks, and we thank God for these impressive results," he said.
Public schools in Nakuru county also recorded good results.
The top pupil at Moi Primary School, 14-year-old Eric Kingiri, scored 421 marks, attributing his success to determination and hard work.
'Love your teachers'
"Pupils should respect and love their teachers. If you hate them, you will not pass their subjects," advised Kingiri. His ambition is to join Starehe Boys and become an engineer, a dream he has held since childhood.
Winnie Muthoni, 13, emerged as the top girl at Moi Primary with 420 marks. She expressed gratitude for the unwavering support from her parents and teachers since Class One. Muthoni aspires to join Kenya High School.
The headteacher, Caroline Chebbe, expressed pride in their students' achievements, saying although the compilation of the results was ongoing, they anticipated a higher mean score.
"We believe cooperation has brought success to this school over the years," she said. Chebbe added that out of 388 candidates, 22 pupils scored above 400 marks. Racetrack Primary School also celebrated a noteworthy performance, with the top pupil, Adrian Mbugua, scoring 411 marks.
Headteacher Daniel Kimani said the school has operated cohesively for an extended period, emphasising the collective understanding that performance is a priority.
[Report by Julius Chepkwony, Daniel Chege, Titus Too, Osinde Obare, Nikko Tanui, Gilbert Kimutai, Antony Gitonga and Kennedy Gachuhi]
