On 21 November 2018, Solomon Ngatia emerged as one of the standout candidates at Nakuru GK Prisons after scoring 403 marks in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examination.
Ngatia, 37, is serving a 30-year jail term after being convicted in 2012 for attempted murder. He told reporters that he had been a class seven dropout from Nyeri before his arrest and later imprisonment.
He said the offence followed a drinking spree at a pub in Nakuru, where a fight broke out and his friend died. Ngatia was among 19 candidates who sat the exam at the facility.
Speaking at the prison, he said the result had exceeded what he expected. “I am happy, this however, is beyond my expectation, despite the condition here I emerged the best,” he said.
Ngatia said the teachers at the prison played a major role in helping him prepare for the exam. He added that he now wants to continue to secondary school so he can pursue his dream of becoming a doctor.
His marks were broken down as 90 in English, 96 in Kiswahili, 68 in Mathematics, 68 in Science and 81 in Social Studies.
Paul Nyanchoka, the prisons education officer, described Ngatia as his best student. “He has been good regardless of the sentence, he is obedient and self-driven,” Nyanchoka said.
Nyanchoka said the institution was pleased with the overall performance of this year’s candidates compared with the previous year. Six students scored 300 marks and above, while seven attained 200 marks and above.
The prison’s mean score improved from 225 last year to 255.15 this year.
