Mirera High School which has been using lunch to woo students from the nearby informal settlements in Naivasha into class was the talk of Naivasha after producing some of the best KCSE students in Nakuru.
For the first time, over 50 students from the school that is located in Karagita slums in Naivasha will be joining universities with the top student garnering an A- (minus) in the national exams.
The school has been using lunch to woo students from the slums into class, a move that finally paid off after years of trial.
Tears of joy were shed, hugs exchanged and prayers recited as the management joined parents, most of whom work in the flower farms to celebrate the impressive performance.
The school currently has a population of 1,557 students with 984 students expected to join form one in the next couple of days.
The top student Machanga Joseph Joyana had an A- (minus), followed by Nyokabi Kelvin Ndeje and Rigan Samarik Saile, both with B+ (plus).
According to the school Principal Apollo Kamau, a total of 333 students were registered for the national exams, the highest in Nakuru.
An elated Kamau told of their joy after emerging as the top subcounty day school with nearly all their students living in the nearby slums.
“Commitment from the students, teachers and parents coupled with prayers has seen this little-known school in the middle of the largest informal settlement produce some of the best students,” he said.
He said they were using meals to woo the students in the classes as many families could only afford one meal per day.
“Of the total number of KCSE candidates, 53 will be joining universities and this is a major motivation to tens of others in the school or streets,” he said.
The top candidate Joyana told of his joy adding that he didn’t expect to be among the top students in Naivasha due to the many challenges facing the family.
The 14-year-old whose parents work as casual labourers termed the impressive results as God-sent adding that he was ready to join university despite fee challenges.
“I want to thank God, my parents, teachers and fellow students for the support they accorded me and in the process I joined the top students from other national schools,” he said.
