There are examination results that make a student proud, and there are those that alter the fortunes of an entire school. When the KCSE 2025 results were released, Manyonyi Girls Senior School experienced the latter.
A straight A, achieved by a student at the school, carried with it a significance that went beyond the grade itself. It was the best KCSE performance in Lugari Sub-County after several years and, for an institution that has been steadily finding its feet, a powerful statement of what was possible within its classrooms.
For years, Manyonyi Girls had been part of the education story of Lugari without necessarily commanding the attention enjoyed by some of the area’s more established schools. The 2025 results changed that equation. Suddenly, the school had a performance that parents could talk about, students could aspire to and teachers could point to as evidence that higher academic outcomes were within reach.
The effect has already begun to show. Principal Janet Kana, speaking to WKT, said the school’s profile has grown since the results were announced, with increased enrolment, particularly in the senior classes. The achievement has brought visibility, but with it has come a more demanding question: can Manyonyi Girls turn one exceptional result into a sustained record of excellence?
‘A’ fuels rising academic giant hungry for more
Located in Lugari Ward, Lugari Constituency, Kakamega County, Manyonyi Girls presents a picture of an institution in transition. Its compound is clean and well maintained, its surroundings serene, and its atmosphere calm and welcoming. Yet beneath that quiet setting is a school pursuing increasingly ambitious academic and co-curricular goals.
Kana is careful not to promise another ‘A’ from the current cohort, even as she remains confident in the ability of her students to improve on last year’s performance.
“I cannot honestly say that I have another student guaranteed to score a straight A this year. However, most of our candidates are above average, and our teachers are working tirelessly to ensure they achieve even better results,” she told WKT.
There are 62 candidates sitting the KCSE 2026, with the school targeting a mean score of 5.3, up from 4.33 last year. The administration is also hoping to increase the number of students qualifying for university to more than 12, after eight students from the 2025 cohort secured university admission.
Those targets reveal an institution unwilling to be defined by one examination result. If one top grade opened the door, the work now is to build something lasting behind it.
Academic excellence reflected on the pitch
Earlier in 2026, Manyonyi Girls’ handball team emerged as the Lugari Sub-County champions, earning the right to represent the area at the county championships held at Eregi Teachers Training College. Their campaign ended at the county level, but the achievement offered another indication of the school’s growing appetite for competition.
For head coach Kelvin Imbwaga, the journey was as important as the final result. He credits the players’ determination and discipline, together with consistent training and teamwork, for taking the team to the county stage.
“The players were determined, passionate, and dedicated throughout the competition. Their commitment, together with the full support from the school management, made our work much easier,” he told WKT.
The squad is composed entirely of Grade 10 and Form Three students, allowing the school to nurture its sporting talent while keeping the students within a manageable academic program. Imbwaga rates the team at 75 per cent and believes there is considerable room for improvement.
“Considering their performance and potential, I would rate the team at 75 percent. They have a bright future,” he said.
The story emerging at Manyonyi Girls, therefore, is bigger than a single A plain. It is about an institution gradually broadening its definition of success, from examination grades to sporting achievement, discipline and the development of confident young women capable of competing beyond their immediate surroundings.
