The 2022 KCSE results were released last Friday and schools from Gusiiland posted a stellar performance, beating seasoned academic giants. But many Kenyans took exception to the results and took to social media to vent.
They could not come to terms with how little-known schools from Gusiiland could suddenly rise to the national pedestal. Some accused Education CS Ezekiel Machogu of having a hand in it.
What the critics are forgetting is that Gusiiland has always produced many top learners. In fact, some of the national records they set may never be broken.
For instance, the KCPE records were set by a Kisii boy called Calvin Nyakundi Marita and a Kisii girl called Rose Moraa. The two shocked the nation in 2003 after scoring 482 and 481 respectively. Those records have not been broken to date.
Admittedly, in recent times the two counties in Gusiiland have made negative headlines. For the past few weeks, mainstream and social media platforms have been dominated by the bad things that have happened in Gusiiland.
It had reached a point where nobody would believe that something good could come out of Gusiiland. All they expected was bad news. Until the KCSE results were announced and gave Kisii people something to smile about.
No matter how hard you try to hate on them, the Abagusii will always be the clever gadgets they are. They are not only hardworking but also principled and result-oriented.
Gusiiland is peopled with men and women of impeccable character and passionate convictions. The Abagusii are content with what they have and they love it when life is not contentious.
There are those who say Kisiis are headstrong when provoked. Nonetheless, they staunchly believe in the content of their character. They have a lot of faith in their moral conviction and appreciate that just like any other human being, they are prone to err. They have a sense of justice and equity.
One thing I know about Kisiis, you cannot coerce them to apologise for their misdeeds. That would be an effort in futility. When they make a mistake, they are not quick to make amends. Some, when offended, are quick to react.
Kisiis are as constant as the Northern Star. They exude natural prowess for intellectual inclination. They are well versed and up to date. The least academic possession found among an average Kisii is a KCSE certificate.
The Abagusii are not too sophisticated but they are in constant touch with reality and their intellectual skills. Kisiis are bibliophiles who love education. They have a penchant for accumulating academic qualifications. They are subsumed in the painstaking pursuit of knowledge.
Those who know Kisiis well will tell you that they always look forward to intertwining their academic qualifications with development. They have contributed immeasurably to economic development in many parts of the world.
Kisiis mean business. They have the capability to siliconise the entire Nyanza region and make it the New York of Africa. Despite a few allegations and a few incidences here and there, their entrepreneurial acumen cannot be matched by many.
Important to note, Kisii men and women are unpretentious. They are loving and caring. If a Kisii is sentenced to your life as a life partner, be sure of trust, loyalty, genuine love and ultimate dedication. As far as the Kisii culture is concerned, divorce is alien. To Kisiis, divorce is seen as sacrilegious.
I am not drenching them with accolades because they are better than the rest, no. I am only trying to counter the negative perception that they are evil on all fronts; that they are not the straightest characters.
Long story short, Kenyans should learn to appreciate hard work. Any student from any part of the country can do well as long as they work hard and cooperate with their teachers.
There is nowhere it is written that only the students from School A should top the national exams but not School X. The teachers that teach them are products of the same institutions. There is no special institution that trains teachers for national schools. All the teachers receive the same training.
The writer sells bananas in the streets of Kisii town. [email protected]
