Meet Goldalyne Kadiya, the special needs star of 2017 KCPE

Goldalyne Kadiya, who emerged the top candidate in this year’s KCPE exams, is yet another proof that there is no challenge that can hinder one’s aspirations.

She defied the odds ranged against persons with special needs, especially albinos, to score 455 marks out of a possible 500 marks.

Kadiya, a former pupil at St Anne Junior Academy, Lubao, in Kakamega is an inspiration to many, according to Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, who took to social media to congratulate her for her feat.

“Congratulations Goldalyne Kadiya of St Anne Junior Lubao in Kakamega County for emerging the top candidate in 2017 KCPE exams with 455 marks out of 500. You are an inspiration to many. Mungu Mbele (God First),” he wrote on Facebook.

She scored A in all the subjects (99 Maths, 99 Kiswahili, 85 Maths, 88 Science and 84 Social Studies and Religion).

“I am really honoured to be here celebrating this wonderful news. I expected to do well but not to this extent. It has actually come as a surprise,” she was quoted by The Standard as saying, dedicating her performance to people who have supported her in her education journey including her parents and school.

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Kakuya is among the six special needs candidates in the top 100 candidates across the country.  She hopes to be selected to Kenya Girls high school or the M-Pesa Foundation academy.

While releasing the results, Education Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i said all candidates with special needs in the top 100 will be placed in national schools.

Albinism, which is a defect of melanin production, comes with a number of associated health problems: poor vision, functional blindness, light sensitivity and skin that is very sensitive to heat and the sun.

But mainstream schools don’t have the sort of support services that children with albinism need, such as clinical eye and skin treatment. Also, most schools lack adequate teachers with training and experience to handle such children.

Experts, however, advise that albino children should be allowed to school with those without the condition, the idea being that such inclusion will ultimately eliminate discrimination.

In Kenya, the government has been working to ensure such a policy is mainstreamed.

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