A little-known village in Kajiado East Constituency was thrown into celebrations after a son of a herdsman, Nehemiah Meitamei Kasaine, scored a straight A of 83 points in last year’s Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KCSE) results.
Immediately the news of his results reached Olmanie village in Mashuuru sub-county, villagers thronged the student’s home in song and dance to celebrate and give thanks to God for his impeccable performance.
Meitamei, who was in Kapsabet Boys High School, said that he aimed to score 84 points, but he is thankful to God for enabling him to score 83 points.
“I want to join the University of Nairobi and pursue a degree in Medicine,” said the soft-spoken Meitamei.
He encouraged other students to work hard, be disciplined, and trust God to help them in their studies.
Kasaine Partimo, Meitamei’s father and a herdsman, was elated and said that his son has always been hardworking, disciplined, focused and loved his studies.
“Though we as his parents never went to school and did not have much to offer him due to our meagre earnings since I work as a herdsman, while his mother carries out casual jobs, he always tells us that he will work hard for our standard of living as a family to change,” said Kasaine.
Rebecca Kimer, a Project Social Worker at Compassion International organisation which funded Meitamei’s education, said that they had high hopes that Meitamei will record a sterling performance as he has always excelled at his studies.
“Meitamei has always been a role model to other students here due to his excellence in education and self-discipline. We are thankful to God for his performance,” said Kimer.
Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku also sent his congratulatory message to the student and wished him success in his future academic pursuits.
“You have, indeed, earned a prestigious place in our history as the boy who dared to dream big, (and made it) and you will forever be cited as one boy who inspired his generation and those behind him that academic excellence isn’t a preserve of the privileged in society, but a product of sheer hard work, discipline, and God’s blessings,” reads part of Lenku’s congratulatory message posted on his Facebook page.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos released the KCSE results yesterday. A total of 962,512 candidates sat for the 2024 KCSE up from 903,138 in 2023.
By Diana Meneto