Mathew Nyamlori, the man who went viral for sitting the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCPE) nine times, has passed away.
Nyamlori’s death was confirmed on Monday, January 20, by his long-term friend, who revealed the resilient philomath passed away after a brave battle with cancer.
According to the friend Okoto Nyuka BeL, Nyamlori had made peace with his fate and had gone to the lengths of making some personal requests bearing in mind that his demise was near.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our dear friend, Mathew Nyamlori, who bravely battled cancer with unwavering strength. He rested peacefully this morning at 7:00 am, while we were processing his discharge, leaving behind a legacy of courage and hope. While our hearts ache with the loss, we thank God for the time we shared with him and the inspiration he gave us. Rest well, Mathew. You fought the good fight,” he wrote on social media.
Matthew Nyamlori, who was diagnosed with gastric cancer. PHOTO/ Courtesy.
“As his caregivers, his brother and I spent the night by his side, just as he had asked. He requested his wallet, carefully rearranged the cards in it, and then asked for his phone,” he added.
Kenyans.co.ke has since learnt that Nyamlori was diagnosed with gastric cancer – a condition which saw his health plummet in the months leading up to his passing.
Nyamlori gained nationwide attention for his resilience on the academic front, as he sat for the KCPE examinations nine times.
One of his main goals was to attain a scholarship, and with this in mind, he was determined to improve his grades, even if it meant re-sitting the national exams multiple times.
Quite remarkably, he first began sitting for the KCPE exams in the late 90s, when the maximum total points one could score was 700.
His regular dates with the national exams were not consistent, as he at times had to take breaks to toss himself into the workforce. At one point, he worked as a casual labourer at a milling factory.
His resilience eventually paid off, as he managed to secure a scholarship after his ninth attempt at the KCPE, and eventually joined the Nairobi School.
In 2021, he joined Kenyatta University where he pursued a Degree in Public Administration and Policy. Little did he know, however, that his health would deteriorate from then onwards.
Matthew Nyamlori, who sat for the KCPE a record 9 times. PHOTO/ Courtesy