Parents from the Boni minority community in Basuba ward, Lamu, are celebrating after Ali Mohamed emerged as the top student with 261 marks in the KCPE exam.
The results were announced in the shadow of years of disruption caused by al Shabaab attacks. The article was published on 2018-11-21, and by then families in the area said their children had already endured a long stretch of learning under fear and uncertainty.
All five primary schools in Basuba had remained shut for more than four years since 2014 after teachers fled following terror attacks. Militants also torched several schools in the area, leaving pupils without normal classroom learning.
The affected schools were Basuba, Milimani, Mangai, Mararani and Kiangwe primary schools. Candidates revised for the exam without teachers, then moved to Mokowe Arid Zone Primary School in Lamu West for last-minute preparation.
At that centre, the top pupil scored 317 marks. Headteacher Omar Ile said the Boni candidates had done well given the conditions they faced.
Two other Boni pupils also posted notable scores. Hawa Warre scored 260 marks, while Mariam Noi got 243.
Ile said he was proud of the students and argued that their performance should be judged against the insecurity that shaped their schooling. “These are children whose schools have been closed for over four years. They never got normal learning nor did they revise like the rest of the pupils,” he said.
He added that the pupils had lived in an insecure area but still managed to do their best. “We couldn’t be more proud of them. They would have performed better in a conducive environment,” he said.
Ile also noted that in the past, most students from the community scored below 200 marks.
Parent Shukri Mohamed said the community was hoping one of its children would eventually join a national school. “We have made history. For us, this is a big deal. People from other parts of Kenya might wonder why we are celebrating 261 marks when they are talking of 400 plus but we are proud of our son,” he said.
Mohamed said the closure of schools had made the achievement even more meaningful. “We never imagined our children could shine especially after schools remained closed. We hope the government will give these kids a chance to join schools like of Alliance and Starehe. They are bright kids,” he said.
Basuba Ward MCA Deko Barissa called on the government to give special attention to Boni students when Form One placement begins.
He said the community’s children should not be overlooked because of the insecurity that has affected their education for years.
