Eldas MP Adan Keynan with students from his constituency after the release of the 2025 KCSE exams./STEPHEN ASTARIKOWajir’s 2025 KCSE top girl Hafsa Sharif, who scored an A (plain)./STEPHEN ASTARIKO
Hafsa’s mother Fatuma Jelle

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Wajir’s 2025 KCSE top student, Hafsa Sharif, who made history as the first girl in the region to score an A (plain) with 81 points, can finally smile. Her joy comes after Eldas MP Adan Keynan stepped in to sponsor her university education through the Adan Keynan Foundation (AKF).

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For days after the results were released, Hafsa, a former student of Furqan Integrated Secondary School in Wajir East, carried a quiet heaviness that contrasted sharply with her remarkable achievement. The uncertainty of how she would fund her university education weighed heavily, robbing her of joy.

That cloud lifted on Saturday whenKeynan, having read her story the Star newspaper, reached out with a promise to support her studies. Speaking on the phone, a visibly excited Hafsa said the reality of her achievement and the support she had received was still sinking in.

“I am still overwhelmed. It sounds like I am dreaming. I lack words,” she said. Coming from a humble background, Hafsa revealed that financial constraints had forced her to consider a teaching course, despite her lifelong dream of pursuing medicine and surgery.

WithKeynan’s support, she can now chase her dream. “I promise to work hard in my studies, achieve my dreams, and one day give back to society,” she said, expressing gratitude to both the legislator and the media for highlighting her story.

Keynan described Hafsa’s achievement as a testament to hard work, resilience and determination.

Through the AKF, he committed to awarding her a full scholarship, enabling her to pursue her medical ambitions. He added that her success serves as a powerful source of motivation for girls in the region, showing that hard work and perseverance can overcome structural and sociocultural challenges.

Hafsa also paid tribute to her parents for their unwavering support, which she said had been vital to her success.