Merishaw School, a newcomer in the academic scene, has made a remarkable debut by outshining academic giants in the 2024 KCSE exams. With an impressive A- mean grade of 10.5686, the Kajiado-based institution surpassed prestigious schools like Alliance High, Kenya High, and Starehe Boys to emerge as the top-performing school in the country.
This achievement is largely attributed to the school’s principal, David G Kariuki, whose name may sound familiar as he was once the principal of Alliance High School. During his tenure there, he led the school to a remarkable mean grade of 11.4, with 202 out of 361 students achieving A grades—an all-time record for the institution.
With a background in Biology, Kariuki began his teaching career over thirty years ago and gradually rose through the ranks, eventually becoming the principal of Meru School. Known for his exceptional ability to connect with people at all levels, Kariuki used this strength to inspire students to reach their full potential. During his brief tenure at the school, he significantly boosted its performance, raising the mean grade from 6 to 9.1 and positioning it as a top contender in the annual KCSE exams.
When Alliance High’s former Principal, Christopher Khaemba, left in 2008 to become the dean of the African Leadership Academy in South Africa, an opportunity arose for a new leader to step in. David Kariuki was shortlisted among five other candidates, with the tradition being that the headmaster must either be an old boy of the school or a former teacher.
His exceptional academic track record and strong administrative skills set him apart, and by chance, he was offered the role, breaking a long-standing tradition. Since then, it has been his life’s mission to produce the best of the best, driven by strategic planning and a relentless focus on student excellence.
However, in 2017, Kariuki resigned from his position following allegations of bullying, after reports emerged that several students had been injured by prefects and senior students.
In 2017, Kariuki transitioned to a role with the County Government of Embu, serving as the County Executive Committee Member for Trade and Tourism. He later took charge of the county’s administration, a position he held until 2022.
In 2023, Kariuki reconnected with his passion for education and became deeply involved in the establishment of Merishaw School. When the opportunity arose to become the Chief Principal, he eagerly embraced the challenge, ready to lead the institution toward success.
His contributions were instrumental in fostering a culture of excellence at Merishaw, spearheading projects like the construction of teachers’ quarters near the students’ dormitories to enhance supervision and improve the overall learning environment.
“The most precious thing to us are the children; just like the cows are to the Maasai people where the cows stay in a kraal at the centre of the Manyatta surrounding them,” he said in an interview with a local newspaper.
The target for the 2024 KCSE class was set at a mean grade of 8.5, but the school exceeded this goal. Principal Kariuki attributed their success to his secret formula: completing the syllabus by the end of March the previous year, allowing students ample time for comprehensive revision and mastery of the material.
After finishing the syllabus, the next step is to plan the year’s activities. Students pinpoint their weak areas topic by topic, and these subjects are revisited and reinforced until they gain a thorough understanding.
“At third term, it was purely topical revisions, rapid results initiatives. Papers with section A, done in 20 minutes and revised in 20 minutes and the boys conceptualise the paper,” Principal Kariuki said.
Among the 14 subjects they registered for with the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), the students earned straight A’s in six. These standout subjects were History and Government, Agriculture, Computer Studies, Physics, Business Studies, and Christian Religious Education.
The school also recorded strong performances in Chemistry, Biology, and Geography, achieving a mean grade of A-. Kiswahili followed with a B+(plus) mean grade, while Mathematics and Art and Design both earned a B. French received a B-(minus), and English recorded a mean score of C+(plus).
When asked to reflect on the outstanding 2024 KCSE results, Principal Kariuki remained modest, responding with humility and attributing the success to the hard work of both the students and the dedicated teaching staff.
“I am not one bit surprised. In my over 30 years of teaching, I have been performing extremely well and I have always known excellence and that is the only thing we’ll be doing here,” he said.
