The Best Student in KCPE History: He Scored 482 Marks, Missing Only 18, Where Is He Now?

For more than three decades, the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) was one of the most important national examinations in the country. It marked the end of primary school and determined which secondary schools learners would join based on their performance. Although KCPE has since been replaced by the Kenya Primary School Education Assessment (KPSEA), its impact on Kenyan education remains unforgettable.

The final KCPE examination was administered in November 2023, closing a chapter that had lasted 38 years. During that period, Kenya produced many brilliant pupils, but one name still stands out more than two decades later — Marita Nyakundi Calvin.

A Score That Has Never Been Beaten

In 2003, Marita Nyakundi Calvin sat for his KCPE exams and achieved an extraordinary 482 marks out of a possible 500, missing only 18 marks. To date, no student has managed to equal or surpass that score, making it the highest KCPE result in Kenya’s history.

What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that Marita’s closest competitor was his own classmate at Busara Forest View Academy in Nyandarua. The classmate, Moraa, scored 481 marks, just one mark behind him.

Marita’s journey to the top was not smooth. While in Standard Five, he was among the lowest-performing pupils in his class. In a past interview, he revealed that he often ranked in the bottom 10 and struggled academically during that time.

However, everything changed in Standard Six. Marita adopted a new mindset, became more disciplined, and committed himself to consistent practice and hard work. His efforts quickly paid off as he rose into the top five students in his class. He maintained that momentum through to Standard Eight, where he stunned the nation with his KCPE performance.

Life After KCPE

Following his outstanding results, Marita joined Starehe Centre for his secondary education, where he continued to excel academically. His strong performance in high school earned him admission to the University of Nairobi, one of Kenya’s leading institutions.

In 2010, he enrolled for a Bachelor of Medicine, a demanding course that he completed successfully. Marita graduated in 2020 and was later registered by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC), officially qualifying him to practise medicine in Kenya.

Today, Marita Nyakundi Calvin works as a medical officer at Nairobi Women’s Hospital, where he continues to serve Kenyans in the healthcare sector. While many remember him for his academic record, his journey also stands as a powerful reminder that determination and persistence can completely change one’s future.

More than 20 years later, Marita remains the highest KCPE scorer in Kenya’s history, a record that has stood the test of time.

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