Cheruiyot Bett Dennis, the most improved student in the 2020 KCSE exam, used to skip classes in primary school. 

Cheruiyot, who was a pupil at Kimargis Secondary School, in Bomet, scored grade B- (minus) up from the 190 marks he scored in KCPE exam, four years earlier.

Cheruiyot, a former pupil at Maset Primary attributes his poor performance then to bad company.

Avoid embarrassing

In an interview with the People Dailyat his Westgate village in Bomet Central, Cheruiyot said he almost refused to join secondary school to avoid embarrassing his parents and relatives yet again.

“After sitting KCPE exam, I joined some of my friends to pick tea and later idle around in the village after work. They used to discourage me to join secondary school, saying it is a waste of time… However, after counselling by my parents and siblings and teachers, I agreed to join a day school,” says Cheruiyot.

 “My parents and some teachers encouraged me to further my education, saying what I achieved in primary school will not determine what I would score in secondary and so I joined the day school,” he said.

A fourth born in a family of six, the 20-year-old now says he wants to be a teacher to inspire other children on the verge of losing hope.

The school principal Stephen Kirui described Cheruiyot as a disciplined and hardworking student who was always ready to learn.