Bahja, an orphan, sat the KCSE exam in 2024, and when Education CS Julius Ogamba announced the results last week, she was among the best not only in North eastern but the country at large, scoring an impressive A- grade.

The fact that she posted the grade in a remote school, Saka Girls’ Secondary School in Balambala subcounty, 100km from Garissa, makes it even sweater.

In a region where girl child education is still hampered by a myriad of challenges stemming from retrogressive cultural practices, posting such a grade was no mean feat.

Her father, who served in the Kenya Defence Forces, died during an al Shabaab attack in Somalia, while her mother succumbed to the Covid-19 virus.

In an interview at home in the outskirts of Garissa Town, Bahja, the lastborn in a family of seven, said she has always remained focused, disciplined and with her target remaining that of achieving good grades in her national exams.

“I lost my mum to Covid-19 while I was doing my KCPE rehearsals in 2021 and my father, a former KDF officer, died in the line of duty in Somalia during the Linda Inchi operation after a homemade bomb hit their lorry in the Gedo region,” she said.

“All this remained a tormenting challenge in my journey but by the grace of God, today I am elated celebrating my KCSE results. However, she did not let these tragedies hinder her studies. “If anything, I used it as a motivator, knowing very well that failure to perform well in exams would be the end of the road for me. My future would be shattered,” she said.

She attributed her success to her brother, sisters, teachers and uncles who stood with her as she studied in a remote school in the Balambala subcounty.

Her secondary school education was sponsored by the school administration throughout the four years after they discovered she was bright but orphaned.

Now that she has emerged with flying colours, she wants to study medicine at the University of Nairobi and become a doctor.

She was quick to add, however, that her dream will only be achieved with the help and support of well-wishers.

Bahja encouraged other girls to take their education seriously.

“Over time, the girl child has proved that given the opportunity, she can post good grades. Personally since my school days, I have wanted to prove that a girl child stands an equal chance with the boy if given the chance,” she said.

Her elder sister, Ummulkheir Ahmed, said they are proud of her younger sister’s achievement in the KCSE exams.

“We learnt of the results yesterday evening, when our sister was away. She came home on Friday and, together with relatives and neighbours, we are celebrating her achievement,” she said.

Hussein Muktar, Bahja’s maternal uncle, could not hide his joy as  he joined other family members to celebrate.

He called upon local leaders, well-wishers and the government to provide a full scholarship to the girl.

Abdi Salat, a neighbour and retired KDF veteran who served with her father at the Gilgil military camp, also appealed for support to help Bahja pursue university education.

“This bright girl needs to be sup ported to achieve her dream. It will be extremely unfortunate if our leaders and well-wishers don’t come through for her in her hour of need,” he said.

“She has already proven that she has the brains to perform, and all she needs is financial support.”

In the 2024 KCSE exam, there were more male candidates than girls in Garissa, Wajir and Mandera counties.