Despite coming from a vulnerable background,
Ntayia, who scored 395 marks in KCPE, had been admitted to Kakamega National School for Form 1 but was forced to join the mixed-day school in Narok town because his parents could not afford to pay the school fees and other logistics required to join the prestigious school.
The boy’s parents who hail from the Melili area, Narok County were forced to combine efforts with other parents to hire a single-room house for the boys to stay in as they attended the free day school that is located in Majengo estate in Narok town.
Ntayia, clearly knowing his background, did not waste any chance in school and from the day he stepped into the school compound, he put all his efforts into academics and scored A plain in all the subjects.
“I had to spend a lot of time revising. I always went to bed as late as 11 pm and woke up as early as 3 am, just to revise and ensure I got all the concepts that were taught in class. I also utilized my teachers properly, who in turn helped me to achieve my dreams,” he said.
Understanding the poverty at his home that could not allow for a conducive learning environment, the young boy forsook all holiday pleasures and committed to remaining in school to revise when his peers closed school.
His vision is to pursue a degree in Aviation and elevate his family from extreme poverty as both his parents are casual labourers who struggle to place a plate of food on the table.
Coming from a Christian background, the boy attributed his success to God and believed his success was not because of human efforts but because God’s hand was clearly evident.
“I heard the news from my school principal when my mother and I were in the shamba where we go to do casual jobs. I was so excited to hear that I had passed the exams,” he said.
The boy’s father Edwin Ntayia said his second-born son has done him proud as he performed beyond their expectations.
He confirmed that since he entered Form 1, he has always scored As in his exams, describing his son as an obedient and hardworking boy who loves helping his parents in their casual work.
The school’s Principal Caroline Rono confirmed that since the school started the first national examination in 2012, no student has ever scored such a high mark.
She attributed the success to the commitment of the boy to his studies as he consulted the teachers regularly and maintained discipline.
“Since our school is a day school, the boy would stay in the school compound until past 9 pm revising and come back as early as 4 am to continue with his studies,” she reiterated.
The second-best student, Njeru Lemayian managed an A- (minus) mark.
Lemayian who shared the rented house with Ntayia said God had rewarded their hard work.
Lemayian wants to pursue a course in Medicine so that he can help the sick in society and help with innovations that will tame many incurable diseases.
The two students confessed to having been relying on relief food donated in school for their survival while in school as their parents could not afford to buy them food and pay for their rental house.
