Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha announced the results of the 2019 KCSE exams on Wednesday, December 18.
Collins Mwangi Kiama,19, who sat for his exams from the Nanyuki High School was amused when Magoha gave him an honorary mention among students who performed spectacularly in the exams despite facing difficulties in the course of their study. He scored a B+, the Daily Nation reported.
Mwangi suffered from persistent lung failure throughout his four-year stint in high school. Speaking to the publication, his mother, Christine Edna Kiama revealed that Mwangi had been using two oxygen machines since he joined form one.
His mother further stated that the student was slated to join Utumishi Secondary School but instead opted to have him closer, at the Nanyuki High since they hail from nearby Ichuga estate in Nanyuki.
"We saw it fit to have him enrolled as a day scholar because he started developing the complications immediately he left primary school," Christine was quoted by the Daily Nation.
"We have been taking him to school every morning and back home every evening. The school's management has been very supportive and we give all glory to God," she added.
When asked what he had planned out for his future, Mwangi revealed that he would like to join the University of Nairobi to pursue medicine.
"The results came as a surprise bearing in mind that I had encountered lots of challenges but I really thank God. I intend to join the University of Nairobi to pursue medicine," Mwangi added.
In the just-released 2019 KCSE examination results, Magoha announced that the number of candidates with special needs went up in 2019 at 1,672 compared to 1,499 in 2018.
Out of the total 1,672 students, 127 candidates qualified for university admission having garnered a C+ and above.
"Clearly, given a good environment, learners with special needs can excel in examinations," Magoha remarked.
