• Although Mumo was a top performer for years, her head teacher at Kari Mwailu Primary School - Mathew Masaku - intimated that the odds seemed to be against her.
•"She was the best candidate, but towards the end, competition was very high. She used to be beaten by others," Masaku said.
Image: COURTESY
Hard work, discipline, prayer and perhaps a little nudge from competitors helped the head girl of a public boarding school in Makueni county to emerge as the top performer in 2020's KCPE.
When Education CS George Magoha took to the stage to release the results yesterday, Faith Mumo didn't expect her name to be mentioned as the best candidate with 433 marks.
Suffering from the effects of a pandemic that not only cut short her studies but also claimed her father's accountancy job, leaving him struggling to pay fees, 2020 was a tough year for Faith.
"I'm very excited and flabbergasted. I never expected to be number one," Faith told the Star on Thursday, minutes after the announcement.
Although she was a top performer for years, her headteacher at Kari Mwailu Primary School - Mathew Masaku - intimated that the odds seemed to be against Faith towards the end as competition was stiff among fellow candidates.
"She was the best candidate, but towards the end competition was very high. She used to be beaten by others," Masaku said.
Masaku said he did not even expect any of the 159 candidates to be among the top 10 performers nationwide, let alone produce the star candidate.
"We were sure we would not miss someone within 1-100 [top students]."
Faith also spoke of the stress of being defeated by classmates.
"When I was being defeated, I would cry, but my teachers would always tell me, 'I know you can do it'," she said.
Faith joined Kari Mwailu Primary School in Standard 3 and with academic discipline and focus spent her years at the instituion finally becoming the head girl.
Masaku said Faith deserved her success, adding she was very disciplined and very hardworking.
The girl said the coronavirus pandemic had her wondering whether she would ever return to school, but was grateful that things worked out.
"It has been hard during this coronavirus period... I didn't think we'd go back to school, but I knew we would one day do exams, even if it was after three years. It's important to put God first in everything. God is the beginner and end of everything. I'm very prayerful," she said.
CS Magoha during his speech when releasing results also spoke about the trials of reopening schools during a pandemic.
"There were those who castigated the move, saying we were putting the lives of children at risk and making them guinea pigs....we stood firm," he said.
Faith's father Paul said a teacher once predicted his daughter's stellar performance.
"Her teacher predicted she'd be top in Kenya, but with coronavirus, we didn't know if this would happen," he said.
Faith said her parents and teachers have been a constant source of encouragement.
She hopes to join Kenya High School and dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon in the future. She cited celebrated boxer Conjestina Achieng's struggles as having touched her to want to become a neurosurgeon.
Girls shone during the 2020 KCPE exam, taking the top three slots.
Nanzala Wesonga from Chogoria Girls Primary School was the second-best candidate with 432 marks.
Angel Murithi came third, scoring 431 marks. She tied with Samuel Wanyonyi.
Girls performed slightly better in English, Kiswahili and Sign Language.
Boys performed better in Maths, Science and Social Studies.
Magoha said overall performance improved compared to 2019, although the mark of the highest candidate dropped from 440.
The mean average performance and quality of grades for all candidates were however higher.
Edited by Henry Makori