Student defies health complications to score A-

Larry Omaya K’Ochieng scored A- in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. [James Omoro, Standard]. 

An 18-year-old student scored A- in 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education despite battling health complications.

Larry Omaya K’Ochieng who studied at Maseno School in Kisumu County is happy after scoring the impressive results.

“I only have God to thank for being alive and scoring an A-,” he said.

K’Ochieng fell sick in August 2024 and at first it was assumed that he contracted amoeba that would heal within days.

However, this was not the case. His condition worsened and he was diagnosed with ulcers.

In the first week of the third term, he was taken to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital where he was diagnosed with intestinal obstruction.

“I had lost hope in life and I knew I was going to die. I was unconscious and could not feel anything happening around me,” K’Ochieng said.

The medics said he needed to undergo emergency surgery within 48 hours to save his life.

“My father who took me to the hospital, revealed later that the doctor had said I would die in two days if I did not undergo the surgery,” K’Ochieng said.

He successfully underwent surgery to address intestinal obstruction.

“I went through the surgery which saved my life,” he said.

K’Ochieng had to stay home for seven weeks to recuperate.

“That time, I thought of deferring my studies so that I could repeat Form Four because revision and other important lessons had taken place in my absence. But later, my doctor and teachers encouraged me to sit the examination,” he said.

The student returned to school during rehearsal for KCSE.

“I went back to school when the exams were beginning even though I was still very weak.  I was in close supervision of a nurse,” he added.

K’Ochieng said he sat for the exams despite being in pain.

“My ambition is to join Kenyatta University to study Medicine and become an orthopedic. I thank God and my teachers for what has happened to me. The idea of repeating form four has faded from my mind,” he added.

His advice is that students who are undergoing difficult situations in life should pray to God for relief.

His father Lenox Ochieng said at some point he gave up and thought his son was going to die.

“Doctors told me that he would die if he did not undergo the surgery in two days. He stayed away from school for seven weeks at critical moments but he scored this grade. I am grateful to God,” he said.