The Best Student in KCPE History Who Scored 482 Marks, 22 Years Later

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) played a critical role in shaping many Kenyans over the past 3 decades. At the same time, this exam not only helped expose students to the national diversity but also evaluate them after 8 years in primary school.

Additionally, the most important role of KCPE was to help students get the chance to join their ideal secondary schools (depending on how they scored). However, the government replaced KCPE with KPSEA (Kenya Primary School Education Assessment).

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The last KCPE examination was done in November 2023. Throughout 38 years of KCPE’s existence, the country witnessed many bright students who scored very good marks. One name that stands out to date is Marita Nyakundi Calvin, a student who only missed 18 marks to attain the maximum 500 marks.

Marita sat for KCPE in 2003 and scored 482 out of 500. 22 years later, there hasn’t been any student who has reached this milestone, hence making it a notable case in the education history of Kenya. In this segment, Times Digital Kenya explores Marita Nyakundi’s life over 2 decades after his great achievement.

The Record-Breaking Student: Background

Marita was just a regular student at Busara Forest View Academy in Nyandarua while in class 5. Actually, he was among the 10 bottom students throughout the course of his studies in standard 5. 

“I was in Standard Five and lagging at the bottom of the class, always among the last 10 pupils,” the scholar said during a past interview. 

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While in class 6, Marita Nyakundi Calvin changed his mentality completely. Through hard work and regular training, he moved to the 5 top students in his class. He continued with the momentum until class 8, where he not only outclassed everyone in his school but also the entire country in the KCPE Exams, 2003.

Nyakundi was the best student countrywide with 482 marks, a milestone that has been unbreakable over 2 decades later. What makes it more interesting is that Marita Nyakundi’s classmate (Moraa) at Busara Forest View Academy was only 1 mark behind him. Moraa scored 481 marks in the 2003 KCPE examination. 

22 Years Later: Where is Marita Nyakundi? Calvin Now?

Nyakundi joined Starehe Centre after his great performance in primary school. The young scholar also extended his stellar performance in high school, hence securing a place in Kenya’s top university. He joined the University of Nairobi in 2010, where he pursued a bachelor of medicine. 

Marita Nyakundi Calvin graduated from the university in 2020. He affirmed his stature as a professional medic thanks to the hard-earned degree. Later, Nyakundi was recognised by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) and hence licensed to work in the country.

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His great achievement saw him join Nairobi Women’s Hospital (where he currently works) as a medical officer. Nyakundi Calvin will always be remembered as the student to score the highest KCPE marks ever in Kenya. 
 

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