2021 KCPE Top Performers Mackenzie and Ashley Score Straight As in KCSE

Two top performers from the 2021 Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE), Bruce Mackenzie Magata and Ashley Kerubo Momanyi, have secured straight A grades in the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), reaffirming their academic excellence.

Four years ago, Mackenzie and Ashley were celebrated for their exceptional KCPE results, with Mackenzie earning the highest marks in the country at 428, and Ashley achieving 427, the highest for a girl. Now, their achievements in the KCSE further solidify their positions as two of Kenya’s brightest young minds.

Mackenzie, a student at Alliance High School, attained an A plain, while Ashley, from The Kenya High School, achieved 83 points, also an A plain. Their consistent performance through both primary and secondary school is a rare accomplishment in Kenya's competitive education system.

Both students expressed the pressure that accompanied their success. Mackenzie acknowledged the weight of expectations following his KCPE triumph, but described the challenge as motivating. Although he did not emerge as the national top performer, he remains among the top students at his school and intends to pursue a degree in software engineering at the University of Nairobi. 

Ashley, who also faced nerves as she awaited her results, was relieved to confirm her A plain, achieved through top grades in subjects including English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, and the sciences. She plans to pursue a career in Mechatronics engineering, with aspirations to study at prestigious institutions like Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Behind their success, both students credited the support of their families and schools. Ashley's mother, Rose Abwunza, expressed pride in her daughter’s achievements, noting her determination and focus.