By
Njeri Irungu,
16 January 2026,
Nairobi, Kenya.
Dandora Secondary School became a beacon of hope and possibility as residents, educators and leaders gathered to celebrate the outstanding academic achievement of Aggrey Mnandi, who attained an A-minus in the 2025 KCSE examinations despite challenging circumstances.
The event, held at the school grounds, was led by Dorcas Mwigereri, a Dandora native, community leader and aspiring Member of Parliament for Dandora North Constituency. Mwigereri said the occasion was not only about celebrating individual excellence, but also about changing long-held narratives about Dandora.
“For a very long time, Dandora has been associated with negative news,” she said. “But this is not what our community is all about. We have young people with immense potential who, if given the right support, can achieve incredible things.”
Mwigereri noted that Mnandi’s achievement was particularly remarkable given that he attended a day school, where students often struggle to balance academics with home responsibilities. She described the success as a testament to discipline, sacrifice and resilience.
“Getting an A-minus in a day school is not easy,” she said. “After class, these students go home to fend for themselves. They have limited time to revise, and yet Aggrey still excelled.”
She added that the appreciation event was also meant to inspire younger children in the area, many of whom face the daily temptation of crime and substance abuse.
“We have children as young as nine being exposed to drugs and crime,” Mwigereri said. “We want them to know that where you come from does not define where you will end up. Hard work can set you apart, regardless of your background.”
Addressing the issue of low transition rates to senior secondary school, Mwigereri made an emotional appeal to the President to enforce a 100 per cent transition policy, arguing that education remains the most effective tool in the fight against drugs and crime.
“If these children are not in school, the fight against crime will be futile,” she said. “The economy is tough, parents are struggling, but keeping children at home only condemns their future.”
She also acknowledged the challenges facing the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), attributing many of the difficulties to inadequate preparation of parents and teachers. However, she urged the Ministry of Education to address these gaps urgently, including preparing institutions of higher learning for the upcoming CBC cohorts to avoid future disruptions.
Dandora Secondary School Principal, Teacher Eutychus Maina Thiong’o, praised Mnandi for putting the school on the national academic map, revealing that the student scored 80 points, narrowly missing a straight A.
“I am a very proud principal today,” Maina Thiong’o said. “Aggrey Mnandi performed exceptionally well under very difficult circumstances.”
The principal disclosed that he personally paid Mnandi’s school fees, learning materials and levies after realising the student’s mother was unable to meet the costs.
“He had potential from the moment he joined us, and I did not want finances to be the reason that potential went to waste,” he said. “I am proud because he did not disappoint.”
Mr. Maina highlighted the many challenges facing the school, including poverty among parents, overcrowded classrooms with an average of 70 students per class, inadequate infrastructure and the recruitment of students into juvenile criminal gangs. He also decried the stigma attached to Dandora, which he said discourages teachers from accepting postings to the area.
“We want the country to know that Dandora has changed,” he said. “We are a community committed to morals, education and transformation.”
The school appealed to the government, the Teachers Service Commission and well-wishers to provide more teachers, resources and infrastructure, saying that with adequate support, the success recorded by Mnandi could be replicated many times over.
As the celebrations concluded, the message was clear: Dandora’s story is no longer just one of struggle, but also of promise, determination and the power of education to change lives.
