Dennis Cheruiyot, a student in Bomet County, was listed among the most improved students in the just-released KCSE 2020.
While announcing the results, Education CS George Magoha commended the student who managed to score a B- (minus) after scoring 190 marks in KCPE in 2016.
Speaking to reporters after the acknowledgment, Cheruiyot revealed how he was disheartened by his poor results in KCPE and lost all hope to proceed with his secondary education.
He stated that he did not want to be a source of embarrassment to his relatives by failing another national examination.
Cheruiyot further explained that he had got himself in bad company which discouraged him from joined secondary school.
"I joined some of my friends to pick tea and later idle around in the village after work. They used to discourage me from joining secondary school, saying it was a waste of time," he stated.
However, his parents remained supportive and encouraged him to further his studies, he later joined Kimargis Secondary School.
"My parents encouraged me to further my education, saying what I achieved in primary will not determine what I will score in secondary school and so I decided to join a day school," he added.
There, he turned around his academic performance and managed to score a B- (minus) in KCSE.
The school principal Stephen Kirui described Cheruiyot as a disciplined and hardworking student who was always ready to learn.
The 20-year-old conveyed that he had plans to become a teacher so as to inspire other children in his area.
Other students who were recognised by Prof Magoha for being the most improved in the country were Hassan Abdullahi Osman from Wayam Secondary School who had 168 marks in KCPE but scored a B-. Maluti Tom from St Teresa Secondary School who had 199 in KCPE also scored a B- in KCSE.
Kipees Charity from Olderkesi Secondary School scored 151 in KCPE but C+ in KCSE, Sadeya Sempeyo Hslavin from Oldekesi Secondary School scored 168 in KCPE and improved to a B- in KCSE.
Kamar Abdullahi from Habaswein Mixed Day Secondary School scored 163 marks in KCPE but passed in 2020 KCSE with a B-.
Ruweitha Abdikadir Hassan from Hon Khalif Girls. She scored 193 in KCPE but got a B-. Siololo Parmaari Joseph of Olderkesi Secondary School had 186 marks in KCPE but in KCSE, he got a B-.
Abdullahi Daud Maalim from Ademasajida Mixed Day Secondary School. He had 137 marks in KCPE but had C+, while Musharaf Kerow Adan from Mandera Secondary School. He had 140 marks in KCPE but managed to get a C+.
