Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s diehard supporter Nuru Okanga is among the 1.43 million candidates sitting for the last batch of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE).
This year’s KCPE examination drew the most candidates yet, thanks to the government’s decision to allow non-registered candidates to sit for the exam, which marks the end of the 8-4-4 education system.
Mr Okanga began sitting for the exam as a private candidate on Monday, October 30, 2023, at Mumias Muslim Primary School in Kakamega County.
He says he wants to get a primary school certificate so that he can run for the seat of Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Kholera ward in Matungu in 2027.
The 32-year-old also thanked Roots Party leader George Wajackoyah for providing him with a tutor who helped him prepare for the exams.
“I am well prepared for this exam. My expectation is to score at least 250 out of the possible 500 marks. This will give me a better chance to join secondary school in my journey to pursue the education ladder because I want to be a big person in this country in the coming days,” said Mr Okanga.
Mr Okanga dropped out of Class Three in 2007 after his father died and moved to Nairobi to live with his aunt.
He entered politics as a supporter of ODM leader Raila Odinga and has been vocal at his rallies. On March 25, 2023, he was arrested alongside another crowd mobilizer, Calvin Gaucho, for participating in illegal Azimio protests, according to their lawyer Danstan Omar.
He revealed his desire to further his education as he prepares for political ambitions.
“I will not stop at this level (KCPE). I want to progress to secondary school and ensure I join university because in Kenya for one to be a president, you must have a degree. That is where my focus is. Even if I am 70 years old, I must contest for the presidency,” he explained.
He stated that he was making every aspect of his life and education progress public so that there would be no doubts about how he obtained his academic papers if he ran for any political office.
The primary school exams began on Monday and are scheduled to end on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.
