KNEC Speaks On Nyambaria High School Reportedly Topping KCSE Again

The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) has dismissed claims of Nyambaria High School topping the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations for the second year in a row.

KNEC flagged as fake a post claiming that the school based in Nyamira County achieved a mean grade of A, completing a clean sweep of eight subjects as depicted in the viral post that circulated on social media platforms.

The post was shared by Kenyans who were amazed by the school's performance, the second such instance that this has happened after the school shocked Kenyans on January 20, 2023, when it registered outstanding results in the 2022 KCSE, more than the famous academic giants.

A post flagged by KNEC as fake on January 8, 2024. /KNEC

The results were also shared by Nyamira County Senator Okong'o Omogeni who congratulated the school for its alleged exemplary performance.

However, despite dismissing the results, KNEC did not reveal the top school but called upon students to check their results on the portal, results.knec.ac.ke.

The boys' high school in the 2022 edition recorded a mean score of 10.8975 out of 12, which was the most out of any school in the country and which was better than last year's performance of 9.3086.

It also hit the headlines after a breakdown of the grades scored by its 488 candidates were enough to send all of them to university. 28 students scored a grade A (plain), and 383 students got a grade A (minus), bringing the total to 411, which represents 84.22 per cent of the candidates.

76 students got a grade of B (plus), and only 1 student scored a grade of B (plain). No student got below B (plain).

Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu notably dismissed claims of alleged malpractice during the 2022 KCSE exams after Nyambaria was among schools in the Kisii and Nyanza regions which reportedly recorded exemplary results, leading to a debate online over the credibility of their results.

He particularly lauded the school's principal, after supervising the 488 candidates who sat for the exams.

“If you look at his history, you will appreciate him because wherever he goes, there is a remarkable improvement,” he told the Nation.

“Let us wait for the 2023 exams and ensure our children work hard. Propaganda will not help us. If today you are number one and tomorrow you are not, it means you must work smart.”

In an interesting twist, the school's principal, Charles Onyari was suspended by the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) as the centre manager for the KCSE exams over allegations of examination malpractice at the school.

In November, its students had chased away exam officials, complaining of intrusive searches.