Residents of Lugari in Kakamega County are celebrating an extraordinary academic turnaround after a Form Four student who consistently ranked last in his class stunned teachers and peers by scoring eight straight As in the 2024 KCSE examinations.
Mohamed Khamisi, a soft-spoken student from a humble background, said his journey to academic excellence was marked by frustration, ridicule, and near surrender before a dramatic shift changed his fate weeks to the national exams.
“For three years, I was number last. Not once, not twice, but consistently,” Mohamed said. “Teachers tried. I tried. Nothing was entering my head. I used to read all night and still fail.”
According to Mohamed, the pressure intensified in Form Four as classmates openly mocked him, while relatives advised him to consider repeating or switching to a technical course. He admits that at one point, he stopped believing he was capable of passing KCSE.
“I reached a point where I believed I was just slow. I had accepted failure,” he said.
Everything changed after his parents organised a short, two-day visit during the August holidays. Mohamed says the visit focused on mental clarity, confidence, and removing what he describes as constant confusion that had plagued him for years.
“I was given a herbal drink and guided on what to do for those two days. I was calm. I slept deeply for the first time in years,” he said.
What followed surprised even his teachers. Mohamed returned to school unusually focused. He began understanding concepts faster, recalling what he read, and answering questions confidently in class.
“My teachers noticed immediately. I started topping tests. Not cheating. Not guessing. I understood,” he said.
A teacher at the school, who requested anonymity, confirmed the drastic improvement.
“He moved from last position to top five within one term. We honestly thought it was a mistake at first,” the teacher said.
When KCSE results were released, Mohamed’s name appeared among top performers nationally, with straight As across all subjects. The news sparked celebrations across Lugari, with neighbours flocking to his home to congratulate the family.
Mohamed says the experience changed how he views failure.
“I learned that sometimes the problem is not effort, but blockage. Once that was removed, everything became clear,” he said.
He now hopes to pursue medicine and encourages students who feel written off not to give up.
“Being last does not mean you are useless. It just means your breakthrough has not come yet,” he said.
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