Candidates with special needs in Kisumu beat the odds to emerge victorious in the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) examinations.
In Seme Sub-County, Opiyo Benard Otieno, a physically disabled pupil who has been on a wheelchair since age 4, managed to score 323 amid the tough times being a pupil at Langi Primary School which is not a special school.
Opiyo who was left behind by his twin brother Simon Otieno who is now in form one at Chulaimbo Boys’ High School after garnering 331 marks in the 2020 KCPE examinations couldn’t hide his joy upon receiving the results.
“I’m so elated. I can’t say anything but I urge other pupils or students not to feel intimidated by their conditions since disability is not inability,” he said.
Opiyo who hopes to join Maseno School for the Physically Impaired urged well-wishers to support his education since he hails from a poor family.
His father, Dickson Mang’are said the feat was unimaginable given the tough conditions under which Opiyo learnt.
“This is unbelievable because we never imagined that Opiyo would do us proud as he has. We now have high hopes in him and continue to pray for his success,” he said.
“He has always been aggressive. We also tried to provide all that he required and I believe this has contributed immensely to his exemplary results,” added Mang’are.
He urged well-wishers to support him fund his son’s secondary school education since he has no steady income.
Maseno School for the Deaf in Kisumu West attained a mean grade of 169.51, making a slight improvement from the previous year in which the school recorded a mean grade of 168.78.
The special school had 16 candidates in the 2021 examinations and the top candidate was Ann Kimberly with 274 marks.
The Head teacher Barrack Odhiambo lauded the candidates for their efforts despite having multiple challenges.
“The school has performed well and we are happy given that most of our learners had multiple disabilities. We realized a positive deviation,” noted Mr. Odhiambo.
St. Martin Deppores Special School for Cerebral Palsy in Nyakach recorded a mean of 239.61 up from a mean of 231.2 in the previous year, with a total of 18 candidates sitting for the examinations. Paul Oluoch Odhiambo emerged the top at the school after scoring 321 marks.
The school Head teacher Mrs. Jane Beatrice Agutu congratulated the boy, adding that it was not a walk in the park to score such marks with his condition.
“To get above 300 marks from these learners is not a joke. That was very commendable and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” she said.
Kibos School for the Blind posted a school mean of 261.64 having had 14 candidates.
The best pupil, Owino Javan scored 359 marks distantly followed by Mahigi Sedric who managed 338 marks, while Irene Anyango came third with 337 marks.
Kisumu County coordinator for the National Council of People living with Disabilities (NCPWD) Bartholomew Agengo congratulated the candidates adding that their performance was a clear indication that disability is not inability.
By Peter K’opiyo
