Top KCSE performers prefer studying medicine at university

Medicine has emerged as the preferred career path among top performers in the 2025 KCSE examinations in Mombasa county, with students citing medical challenges facing society, family influence and personal passion as key motivators.

At Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al- Nahyan School, Mohammed Aziz, who scored an A plain of 82 points, said he aspires to pursue medicine at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology. 

"I was expecting good results, but this is more than what I hoped for," he said, crediting his brother as his role model who motivated and pushed him throughout his studies.

Another student, Hami Abdallah, who also scored an A plain, attributed her achievement to her single mother, whom she described as her pillar of strength. 

"I have taken after her confidence and resilience," she said, thanking God, her teachers, relatives and peers. 

Abdallah said medicine has been her dream career.

Her mother, Suheila Mohammed, said Abdallah invested through her hard work. 

"This is not the end but the beginning. May she continue to excel," she said.

Principal Sheikh Rishard Ramadhan credited programmes implemented during the third term, noting that students studied hard and placed God first. 

"These results indeed humble us," he said.

The school recorded an improvement in mean score, from 9.13 the previous year to 9.64. 

At Mama Ngina Girls' School, the top student, Yvonne Mruu, who scored an A plain of 84 points, said she was elated with the results. 

"I didn't expect to do that well, but I expected good results," she said, thanking God and her teachers.

Mruu wants to pursue medicine, specialising in gynaecology at the University of Nairobi. Her passion for the course, she said, stems from the recent increase in women suffering from ovarian and uterine cancer, conditions that have affected her grandmother.

Her counterpart Halima Fuhad, also an A student, said she was happy and grateful to her teachers, principal and the school for helping her achieve tremendous results. 

She attributed her success to hard work, determination and discipline. 

Fuhad wants to pursue medicine and specialise in cardiology, inspired by a bootcamp where doctors volunteered to help those with heart conditions.

Chief principal Mwanahamisi Omar said the school’s mean score rose from 7.84 in 2024 to 8.3 in 2025, describing the A plain of 84 points as a historic milestone for the institution

Top students from Shimo la Tewa School echoed the role of teachers, personal dedication and an encouraging community in contributing to stellar results. 

They also expressed the desire to study medicine. 

Abdul Mwatsuma, who scored an A plain of 84 points, wants to specialise in cardiology to find a cure for his ailing mother. He appealed for well-wishers to help fund his dream.

Mutiso Mbinda, the chief principal, also noted that the improvement—from a  mean score of 7.43 to 8.23—were as a result of discipline, early completion of the syllabus, revision and God.

Victor Kombe (A, 83 points) is passionate about obstetrics and gynaecology. He thanked God and credited collaboration between teachers, his peers and parents for the achievement.

Memon Academy’s Amar Mohammed and Karima Grana also wish to pursue their childhood passion—medicine—to help society. 

"The journey was not easy, but due to hard work and determination, we managed to do it," Mohammed said.

Caroline Mbugua, deputy principal at Memon Academy High School, said teachers, parents and the students gave their all. 

"We are really proud of them," she said.

The school recorded an improvement from five As in 2024 to seven this year, with 24 A-minuses.

The strong performance by individual students reflected broader improvements across Mombasa county schools, with institutions posting better results compared to the previous year.