KCSE 2024: Meet Eric Muturi, Nakuru's top student who wants to be a software engineer

Even as the excitement and thrill of the release of the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results begins to fade, the joy is still palpable for Eric Muigai Muturi, who scored an outstanding A (plain) of 84 points.

His remarkable performance places him among the top students not only in Nakuru County but also in the country.

Eric is not an ordinary student. From the moment he began his academic journey, he has always stood out, improving his results with every exam he sat.

His academic journey has been one of growth and excellence, culminating in his exceptional KCSE performance.

From the day he joined Moi High Kabarak he considered himself an exceptional student, noting that when he entered the school he was ranked 272 out of 380 students based on his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) marks.

Despite this, he worked tirelessly and eventually came first in his school and ranked highly at the national level.

"When I got my results, I was on cloud nine. I couldn't believe it. I had to confirm my results with so many people to make sure it really happened. It's a feeling I've never had before. It's like lightning in your body and you just want to escape. To be honest, I'm still feeling it now," says Eric, his voice full of joy and disbelief.

Describing his personality both inside and outside the classroom, Eric reflects on how he has always felt different from his peers, not only academically, but also in his social.

He attributes this unique perspective to his mission in life: to seek God first and do the work necessary to succeed.

"I strongly believe in educating yourself to become the best version of yourself. Protect your peace, stay disciplined and build a mind and body that respects yourself and focuses on your goals. In today's world, distractions are just a click away," he says.

Throughout his time at school, Eric was not only a diligent student, but also an active participant in extra-curricular activities.

He took on leadership roles in clubs and societies, serving as captain, and also made a significant contribution to the school's basketball team.

He was always willing to help his peers, especially when his teachers asked him to help others with concepts he had mastered.

Eric is also passionate about technology and has always been fascinated by software engineering. When asked about his future plans, he expressed a strong desire to pursue a career in this field.

He is particularly interested in attending one of the top Ivy League universities - MIT, Stanford or Princeton - to further his education and achieve his career goals.

Despite the pressure that has come with his academic journey, Eric acknowledges that all the hard work has paid off. He comes from a family of academics, and continuing his family's legacy of excellence was an important goal for him.

Eric's father, David Muturi, was immensely proud of his son's achievements. Although he had always believed that Eric could get an A, he was amazed by his son's achievement in becoming one of the top students in the country.

David recalls that when Eric first entered Moi High School Kabarak, he had very low marks and almost missed out on admission.

But Eric's perseverance was evident from the start. He steadily improved his rank, moving from 328th to 187th, then to 94th, 44th, 19th and finally to second in the school. His progress has been both remarkable and consistent.

David fondly remembers how Eric never made a big leap, but made steady progress. In fact, one of the school's deputy headmasters remarked that they had never seen a pupil start so low and finish in the top five.

"Eric scored 383 marks in his KCPE, which placed him first in the county. I am very proud of his achievements," says David.

David has always been there to encourage his son, providing guidance and insight throughout his academic journey.

He attributes Eric's success not only to his own discipline, but also to the support and inspiration he received from his mother, a high school teacher. Their home was a safe space for academic discussion and advice.

David recalls how Eric would wake up at 4am during school holidays to study. "In January of in form four, he gave his gadgets - his PS5 - to his mother and asked her to keep them until after his exams in November. Even if he asked for them before then, even in tears, she was not to give them back," says David, emphasising his son's commitment to his education.

As a family, the Muturis are incredibly proud of Eric's achievements and are confident that his success is just the beginning of a bright future.