Machakos Boys' celebrate Tony Motika, one of the students who scored an A Plain. Photo by Virginia Siebella. 
By Virginia Siebella
Machakos Boys’ High School has recorded an outstanding performance in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, posting significant gains that underscore a steady upward trajectory in academic excellence.
Speaking to the media, the school’s Principal, Mr. Benson Manoo, announced that four candidates attained the coveted A (plain) grade, with one student emerging among the country’s top performers after scoring an impressive 84 points. The exceptional candidate, Joan Munyuera Mbaye, achieved straight A (plain) grades in all subjects, a feat the principal described as “extraordinary and highly commendable.”
In the overall grade distribution, the school recorded 38 A–, 99 B+, 125 B (plain), 154 B–, and 83 C+, results Mr. Manoo termed as “very encouraging.” The performance translated into a mean grade of 8.4, a notable rise from 7.7 in 2024 and 7.4 in 2023, marking three consecutive years of consistent improvement.
“This is not an accident,” Mr. Manoo said. “For the last three years, we have registered gradual but consistent improvement. Our teachers worked extremely hard, and by May we had completed the syllabus. We then engaged the candidates in rigorous revision programmes, which played a key role in achieving this performance.”
He lauded both the teaching staff and the candidates for their discipline, commitment, and resilience, noting that teamwork and early preparation were central to the success. Expressing optimism for the future, the principal added with a smile, “The name Manoo means a sharpener. I can assure you that this afternoon, we will sharpen these minds even further so that next year we post even better results.”
Among the top achievers was Tony Motika, one of the students who scored an A (plain). Speaking after the announcement, Motika expressed deep gratitude to God, his teachers, family, and friends for their unwavering support throughout his academic journey.
“I thank God so much for this privilege, with a pulsating heart of gratitude,” he said. “I am also sincerely thankful to my sponsors from Canada who financed my education. They mentored me, motivated me, and inspired me to pursue my goals.”
Motika revealed that he aspires to study Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo in Canada, with ambitions of venturing into business in the future. He attributed his success to sacrifice, hard work, and prayer, noting that consistent preparation and guidance from his teachers played a critical role.
The impressive performance by Machakos Boys’ High School places the institution among the top-performing schools in the region, reinforcing its reputation as a centre of academic excellence and a breeding ground for future leaders and innovators.
