Kenyan Newspapers Review: Former Barmaid Beats Odds To Score B+ In 2023 KCSE

On Tuesday, January 9, the national dailies widely reported on the release of the 2023 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results.

The papers also reported on the looming storm in the opposition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party over its presidential candidate in the 2027 polls.

1. The Standard

The paper reported that a former barmaid who had dropped out of school in Standard Four scored a B+ (plus) in the 2023 KCSE exams.

Mary Akinyi joined Rang'ala Girls High School at the age of 23.

Akinyi said she decided to go back to school due to mockery from patrons at the bar where she worked in Bondo town.

Disadvantaged by age, Akinyi said it was not easy to cope with fellow learners, but through guidance and counselling, she focused on her academics.

2. People Daily

The publication reported that Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe caused a storm in Azimio after suggesting that ODM leader Raila Odinga should vie for the presidency in the 2027 polls.

Murathe, a rabble-rouser within political circles on Sunday, January 7, hinted that Raila is still energetic enough to make another stab at the presidency, having done so five times and failed.

"Raila will be the 2027 presidential flag bearer. Those holding contrary opinions should pose or hold their horses. If Malawi people picked a president at 90, then what's strange with Raila's case?" posed Murathe during Raila's 79th birthday celebrations in Kilifi county.

Murathe's suggestion comes after Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka declared that he would be on the ballot in 2027 and would not support Raila's presidential ambitions again.

3. Taifa Leo

The Kiswahili publication reported that two sets of twins are among the students who clinched top grades in the 2023 KCSE exams.

At St Mary's Igoji Secondary School in Meru county, ululations filled the air when Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu announced the highly anticipated results on Monday, January 8, as twins Richard Rachel Mumbe and Richard Ruth Ndanu each scored an A grade of 83 points.

The school principal, Florence Mutwiri, told journalists:

"Success takes discipline, hard work, motivation, and not forgetting prayers to achieve."

4. Daily Nation

The newspaper reported that senators are headed for a collision with the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) over its proposed quotas to counties in the equitable revenue share for the coming financial year.

The development comes after the CRA proposed KSh 396.05 billion as an allocation to counties for the fiscal year ending June 2025.

However, senators have questioned the proposed allocation to the 47 devolved units, saying it is way below the proposal the agency had put out for the current financial year.

In December 2023, the agency led by Mary Chebukati submitted a report to the National Assembly's Budget and Appropriations Committee, suggesting an increase in allocations to KSh 407 billion from the current KSh 385.4 billion.