For many, getting a grade of D Minus in a national examination is seen as a failure—just one step away from the lowest grade, E. However, this is the grade that has prompted Kipkenyo Member of County Assembly (MCA) David Kimeli Leting to celebrate enthusiastically.
Leting’s reaction to his D- (Minus) score in the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams might surprise many. The MCA was not expecting such a grade and had, in fact, anticipated receiving an E! His results revealed an E in mathematics, Kiswahili, and Christian Religious Education (CRE), and further E’s in Geography, Chemistry, and English. His most unexpected success came in Biology, where he earned a C- (Minus), a grade he proudly celebrated.
“I am ahead of over 480 candidates who have wasted 15 years in school,” he said, reflecting on his non-traditional educational journey. “I’ve never attended any school, not even for tuition.”
He continued, “In Biology, I scored a C- and nobody here achieved that because studies are so difficult. When I saw my Kiswahili results, I was surprised. I thought I might get an E Plus, but I was told that wasn’t an option. Despite this, I pushed myself harder and was incredibly proud of my D Minus.”
Leting’s education story is unconventional. He dropped out of nursery school in 1970 and only returned to formal education decades later. In 2020, he sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) and scored 150 marks out of 500. “There was a time when it was said that all MCAs needed a KCSE certificate to qualify for office. Now, there’s nothing they can tell me,” he added with pride.
Despite the challenges, Leting’s story stands as a testament to perseverance and defying the odds, turning what many would consider failure into a personal victory.
