These names; Mark Maugo, Job Nalianya, Dickens Omanga, and Bundi Karau may not be known by most Kenyans, but they made headlines years ago, when they were named top candidates in different KCSE exams.
After emerging top in KCSE, they ventured into different careers where they are currently thriving. Below are their stories:
Mark Maugo
In 2008, Mark Maugo a student at Alliance High School emerged as the top candidate in KCSE after scoring 87 points.
He was later admitted at the University of Nairobi where he undertook a Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery and graduated in 2015.
He is currently working at the Nairobi Hospital as a General Practitioner and an expert in Rheumatic heart disease.
Bundi Karau
In 2002, the country was shocked when Bundi Karau, a student at Kanyakine Boys' High School in North Imenti emerged as the top candidate in KCSE, defeating students from renowned national schools such as Alliance, Mang'u, Starehe, and the like.
Following his stellar performance, he joined the University of Nairobi and pursued a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery degree, and graduated in 2010.
In 2014, he enrolled for a Masters degree in Internal Medicine and graduated in 2017. Three years later, he enrolled for a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Anatomy, a course he completed and graduated in September 2023.
Karau has worked for several companies and agencies such as; the Ministry of Medical Services, the University of Nairobi, Kenya Methodist University, Meru Teaching and Referral Hospitals respectively, and Oregon Health Services in Meru where he serves as the Chief Physician.
File image of Bundi Karau. [Photo: Courtesy]
Dickens Omanga
The Friends School Kamusinga alumni topped the 2006 KCSE exams.
Like the other two candidates, he also joined the University of Nairobi and pursued a degree in Medicine which he completed in 2013.
He later enrolled for a master's degree in Orthopaedic Surgery at Moi University which he completed in 2021.
He currently works as a doctor at Kitale County Referral Hospital.
Job Nalianya
Nalianya, an alumnus of St Peter's Seminary school in Kakamega was the top student in the 2012 KCSE exams.
His good results saw him earn a place at Stanford University in the United States of America (USA) where he undertook a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, after which he enrolled for a master's degree at the same institution.
He later got the at a tech company dubbed Texas Instruments, which focuses on manufacturing chips.
"It’s a semiconductor company and we build chips that go into everyday use electronic devices. I work as an Integrated Circuit (IC) designer and design the circuits that go into the chips,” he said in a past interview.
