In\u00a0 a celebration that defied conventional norms, the usually quiet Kipkenyo Ward in Kapseret Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, came alive as residents gathered to honor their Member of County Assembly (MCA), David Kimeli Letting, popularly known as Kokwas.<\/p>\n
The 64-year-old MCA had achieved a remarkable personal milestone by sitting for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination and scoring a mean grade of D-.<\/p>\n
For Kokwas, this was no ordinary achievement. Despite dropping out of nursery school in 1970 and spending most of his life without formal education, he managed to sit for the national examination as a private candidate. His results\u2014four Es, two D-s, and a C- in Biology\u2014may seem modest to some, but they represent a victory for a man who had never attended regular school or received formal tuition.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am ahead of 400 and 80 something students who have wasted 15 years, and me I go there in 30 days of exam only,\u201d he proudly declared. \u201cI have never gone to any school\u2026 even a tuition. There is nobody who has come to where I am and told me that this is this and this is this. I am trying to do my exam through God.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kokwas\u2019s journey back to education began four years ago when he decided to sit for the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam. Despite scoring only 150 marks, the experience inspired him to push further and attempt secondary school certification.<\/p>\n
\u201cWakisema watu wa O-Level, mimi nitakuwa mmoja wao. Sitatolewa na hii kazi ya MCA,\u201d he remarked, referencing past requirements that sought to disqualify leaders without a Form Four certificate. \u201cKuna wakati walikuwa wanasema kama hauna certificate ya Form Four huwezi pewa\u2026 sasa saizi hakuna kitu wataniambia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The MCA\u2019s determination stems from his desire to better serve his constituents and actively participate in debates at the Uasin Gishu County Assembly. He wanted to gain confidence in articulating issues in English and representing his ward effectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am happy that I already know how to speak in English and explain because that is my nature and this is from God,\u201d Kokwas said, beaming with pride.<\/p>\n
Kokwas\u2019s journey is not just about academic pursuit; it is also a story of resilience and the will to overcome societal expectations. As someone who had never attended formal schooling, he relied on sheer determination and his belief in God.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust imagine bwana, ati nimeshinda watu 400,\u201d he exclaimed, reflecting on his results. \u201cIn Biology I (scored) C-, and there is nobody here who has (scored) C-. Because I am somebody who is learned from the stomach of my mother\u2026 I am a person who is different.\u201d<\/p>\n
His candid and humorous remarks have endeared him even more to his supporters. While reflecting on his Kiswahili results, Kokwas joked, \u201cHiyo Kiswahili kwanza haikuwa mbaya, nikaona sasa ntapata E plus. Wengi wakaniambia ata E plus haipatikani\u2026 sasa mimi nikajikaza tu lakini juzi nikakuwa surprised kupata kwamba niko na D-.\u201d<\/p>\n
The celebration in Kipkenyo Ward was a testament to the strong bond between Kokwas and his constituents. Residents showered him with praise, proud of his determination to pursue education despite his age and challenges. For them, his achievement was not just personal but also symbolic of the transformative power of education.<\/p>\n
\u201cKokwas is an inspiration to all of us,\u201d said a resident during the celebration. \u201cHe shows us that it is never too late to achieve something great. He has put Kipkenyo Ward on the map.\u201d<\/p>\n
The MCA\u2019s journey also underscores the importance of embracing education as a lifelong pursuit. It serves as a powerful message to young people and adults alike, encouraging them to push past obstacles and aim for their goals.<\/p>\n
For Kokwas, the journey does not end with his KCSE results. He is determined to use his newfound knowledge to better serve his ward and make meaningful contributions to the Uasin Gishu County Assembly. Armed with his certificate, he now feels more confident about his role as a leader and is ready to face future challenges.<\/p>\n
While his academic journey might have started late, Kokwas remains steadfast in his belief that every milestone is a step toward greater things. His story is a testament to resilience, faith, and the power of determination.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was born different, and this is my journey,\u201d he said, with a smile that lit up the celebration. \u201cThis grade shows that I can do more, and I will continue to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
David Kimeli Letting\u2019s story is a powerful reminder that success is not about perfection but persistence. It challenges the societal norm that education is only for the young and proves that determination and faith can break barriers. His achievement is an invitation for everyone\u2014regardless of age or circumstances\u2014to chase their dreams and embrace opportunities for growth.<\/p>\n
As Kipkenyo Ward continues to celebrate its beloved MCA, Kokwas\u2019s story will remain an enduring symbol of hope and resilience, inspiring many to believe that it is never too late to learn, grow, and succeed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In\u00a0 a celebration that defied conventional norms, the usually quiet Kipkenyo Ward in Kapseret Constituency, Uasin Gishu County, came alive as residents gathered to honor their Member of County Assembly (MCA), David Kimeli Letting, popularly known as Kokwas. The 64-year-old MCA had achieved a remarkable personal milestone by sitting for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":537,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education-news"],"blocksy_meta":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/stateupdate.co.ke\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/maxresdefault-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc68Dd-8E","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=536"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":538,"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/536\/revisions\/538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateupdate.co.ke\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}