Three KCPE candidates, of South Sudanese national, are among the top students in Nyeri county.

The trio moved to Kenya in 2014 to seek refuge as a result of the peace and instability in their home country.

They were students at Ndima Kanini Academy, where 12 students out of 130 scored above 400 marks.

Michael Garang, the top student in the academy, managed to score a total of 408 marks.

“I am so grateful for the good marks despite being a refugee in this country,” he said.

He said he and his family lived a beautiful life in Sudan but after civil war broke out in South Sudan they fled to Kenya to seek refuge and his dreams to study had ended.

“After the civil war our family had to seek refuge in Kenya, personally  I did not know where Kenya was and I was very worried that my education and dreams would come to an end,” he said.

Garang said that after his family settled in Karatina, Mathira constituency since some of his distant relatives were living in the area.

Garang joined Ndima Kanini Academy in 2014 but had to repeat nursery school since South Sudan’s education curriculum did not match the 8-4-4 syllabus.

The student added that the poor economic conditions, diseases and war in Sudan were the main sources of his inspiration to work hard and achieve his dreams of helping his community back in South Sudan.

“The harsh conditions in my home country made me work extra hard so that one day I may help my community,” he said.

Garang’s hopes to join Alliance high school and aspires to be a neurosurgeon lecturer.

Kuek Chol a relative to Garang, a second-best student with a score of 405 marks said that facing harsh environments in south Sudan gave him a thirst for education.

He added that the teachers in the school were of great help to him since at first the Kenyan syllabus was a bit difficult for him at first.

“I dedicate a large part of my success to my teachers as they helped me so catch up with the Kenyan curriculum,” he said.

The third-best student and a distant relative to Garang said it was challenging at first since after she repeated in the nursery, she had to skip class two and three.

Akuol Garang the firstborn in the family said she was elated to see his brother and relative become top students and termed her family members as hardworking and dedicated.

“I’m so happy to see my family members singing despite the challenges they have faced as a family,” she said.