Candidate who scored 273 marks in KCPE gets A- in KCSE

@Alicewangechi

Little known Mioro Secondary School in Mathioya, Murang’a county has celebrated a student who scored A- in the recently released KCSE exam results.

Paul Kihumba joined the school as an average student after scoring 273 marks in KCPE but improved to score the top grade.

He said in order to access the school, he had to move from his home in Muthangari village to live with his aunt.

Kihumba, who comes from a humble background, said he would walk to school to start his studies by 6 am.

At times, he said he would spend the night in school after late night studies or when it rained heavily.

Kihumba first sat for his KCSE exams in 2022 and scored a B-. Unhappy with the grade, he repeated Form 4 and scored an A-.

“I have worked really hard to score the 78 points and I am happy of what I have achieved it. My ambition is to undertake a course on Information Technology at the University of Nairobi,” he said.

But Kihumba parents are peasant farmers who, he said,  can’t afford to pay for his university fees.

He said his education may be disrupted due to financial constraints.

The top student urged well-wishers to come to his aid and help him join the university.

Kihumba said he hopes to uplift his family’s living standards in future.

The school’s principal Ng’ang’a Muturi said out of the 72 candidates at the school, 12 scored C+ and above.

In 2019, the school shot to the limelight for the first time after one of its candidates Josphat Mwangi emerged the most improved KCSE candidate nationally.

Mwangi had joined form one with 278 marks and scored A- of 79 points in KCSE.

Muturi said the school has a lot financial challenges since it is attended by students from very humble backgrounds. 

“At some point, the board had to waive fees for some of the brightest students to allow them to learn without disruptions,” he said

Some, Muturi explained, would be fed supper at the school due to the high levels of poverty in their homes.

He said eight out of the 12 candidates with C+ and above are from very humble backgrounds and may not be able to join universities.

“Kihumba and the rest of the students are the hopes of their families. They may be the ones to lift their families's standards of living," Muturi said.