Girl tops in 2023 KCSE in Mandera County

Halima Abdi Rashid, a girl from a humble background in Mandera County becomes the county's champion after she scored a mean grade of A- in the just released KCSE.

Rashid who aspires to pursue a career in medicine and surgery was a student at Mandera Moi girls secondary school.

Despite her family background, she excelled against all odds and emerged the best in a school that had not scored such an outstanding result since 2007.

While narrating the poverty level of her family, Rashid said she stayed at her friend's home during holidays to study at night as there was no power connection at her homestead.

However, she attributed 70 percent of her good performance to her parents who always supported her in the odds and provided for her basic needs

"I was born in a family stricken by a high poverty level but that did not hinder my success as my parents have always encouraged me to push forward and succeed in Education," she said.

She also thanked her teachers and staff support who played a key role in her today's excellent results.

Rashid, the first born in a family of six was cheered by her schoolmates for the exceptional results and she urged her peers to always obey their parents for them to succeed even in life.

She was among ten other students who were sponsored by the former governor of Mandera Ali Roba during his tenure in 2020 after she scored 388 marks in the then Kenya Certificate of Primary Examinations.