On 20 November 2018, Kenya’s KCPE results produced a rare tie at the top, with Olive Mwea of Riara Road Primary School in Nairobi County and Rawlings Odhiambo of Kakamega Hill School in Kakamega both scoring 453 marks out of 500.
The two pupils posted the same subject breakdown as well: 99% in Mathematics, 92% in English, 97% in Kiswahili, 81% in Science and 84% in Social Studies. Their performance placed Riara Road Primary and the private Kakamega academy in the national spotlight.
At Riara Group of Schools on Monday, parents, pupils and teachers celebrated after Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed released the results. Mwea said the outcome surprised her because she had not expected such a high score.
“I didn’t expect to score 453 marks, I expected to score 433, when I got the results this afternoon it was unbelievable. I could not believe it until my teacher confirmed it. I was really excited,” said Mwea.
Riara school principal Naomi Mbugua said the result was a first for the institution, which has offered KCPE for 28 years. She described Mwea as disciplined, hardworking and humble, and said the pupil was especially strong in languages, mathematics and other subjects.
“I’m so delighted that we have the first child, this is our first time, having done KCPE for the last 28 years,” she said.
Mwea’s mother also praised her daughter’s effort, saying she had worked hard and was self-motivated. The 13-year-old said she wants to study pharmacy after secondary school.
For Riara Road Primary, the result marked a historic breakthrough. For Mwea, it was the reward for years of steady work and a score she says she never saw coming.
