Academic giants flop as sub county schools shine in Rift Valley

Students of Langa Langa Secondary School in Nakuru celebrate after Laura Ayuma scored A of 81 points, on January 9, 2025. [Daniel Chege, Standard]. 

For the third year in a row, Langa Langa Mixed Day Secondary School, a sub county school in Nakuru produced impressive results.

The top student at the school scored A and while five got A- in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary School (KCSE) examination.

The day school had 470 candidates and maintained a mean grade of 6.2 compared to 2023, when it registered 421 candidates.

The Principal Rufina Nkonge attributed the success to hard work, sacrifice from teachers, parents, and students, and determination.

“We host students from the slums and humble backgrounds. While some may lack essentials, others lack school fees but we still record good results,” she said.

Laura Ayuma, the top student, scored A of 81 points.

READ: List of top performers in 2024 KCSE exams revealed

“I expected to get the results but not that high. I had doubts,” she said.

Ayuma's aspires to be a neurosurgeon and hopes to study at Harvard University in the United States of America.

“I was determined, despite knowing that I do not easily understand concepts in school. I sacrificed sleep and friendship,” she said.

Tanyileel Girls, a county school in Baringo posted a mean score of 8.24 compared to 7.2 in 2023.

All 57 students scored above C+ with two getting B+ and 22 B.

In Transmara East sub-county, Olpopong Mixed Day Secondary School recorded impressive performance with over 80 students set to join the university.

The school’s mean grade shot to 6.101 an improvement from 5.12 in 2023.

In contrast, Nakuru Girls High School, a giant national school failed to record a single A in the examination with the top student scoring A-.

The mean grade also declined from 8.5 in 2023 to 8.22 with 22 students out of the 331 getting A- and 220 C+ and above.

The school also recorded D- a drop compared to 2023 where the last student scored D+.

The mean grade of Tenwek High School, an academic giant in Bomet County dropped to 8.41 in 2024 from 9.33 in 2023.

Of the 536 candidates who sat the examinations, 488 scored C+ and above but only one student scored A.

In 2023, 20 students scored an A and 70 had A-.

Chief Principal Mutali Chesebe said the drop is common in all the schools. He however, said he was proud that more students will be joining the university  compared to 2023.

"Despite the drop in the mean grade the number of candidates joining the university increased," said Mutali.

Chesebe attributed the impressive performance to the students' and teachers' hard work and dedication.

"On behalf of the teaching staff, I take this opportunity to congratulate the 2024 candidates for posting good results," he said.