Two years ago, were Moses Mdhami to envision life after primary school, he would fumble and offer a grim forecast, owing to the hopeless situation he was in.

But today his dream is clear. He aspires to be a civil engineer and take part in infrastructure development. With 398 marks in KCPE, the 16-year-old is among the best performers in Mudzini School, which topped in Kilifi.

Surpassed target

The school posted a mean score of 384.8, surpassing its target of 381. Academics director Julius Kassim says this was an improvement from the previous score of 346.

Mdhami was among three best students in the school — after Janet David (408) and Stacy Tabia (399). The last candidate had 353 marks.

The former pupil at Kikambala Primary was rescued by Mudzini School from extreme poverty and danger of recruitment into criminal gangs. Principal Leah Gathuku says they were on a mission to identify bright, needy children when they were directed to Mdhami’s home.

“We assessed his situation and decided to enroll him … in Class Six. He needed a place where he could study comfortably”, she recalls.

Eight candidates in the 2021 cohort were rescued in this manner and given full sponsorship by the school.

Mdhami recalls his journey from poverty in Maweni village, where going to school was not guaranteed.“Many people, including my friends, have been ravaged by drug abuse and crime,” he says.

In the village, Mdhami would leave home at 9.00pm to go fishing and return at around 4.00am to fend for his family. “I have six siblings and one parent — our father, who is old and sickly,” he states.