By Ben Leshau
After being faced with challenges such as Female
Genital
Mutilation (FGM), teenage pregnancies and early marriages, girls in vast Narok county
finally have something to smile about as one of their own came top in KCPE with
416 out of the possible 500 marks.
Sophy Mutheu Benson,13, topped the county beating all the boys against all odds
to shine despite studying as a day-scholar at Catholic-sponsored St Peter’s
Academy in the slums of Majengo on the outskirts of Narok town.
The teenager told journalists at her home in Lenana estate that she is not new
as far as academic excellence is concerned, saying that she has
been topping her class since she stepped in standard one eight years ago.
“I was expecting to perform well more than what I got but it is well. I have
been a bookworm ever since I started schooling,” she narrated.
Sophy who wants to join Alliance Girls High School aspires to be an accomplished
gynecologist so that she can help pregnant mothers in remote areas in Narok and
other Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) deliver
safely.
She revealed that she was inspired to be a gynecologist by Karen Hospital-based
medic identified as Dr Daniel Thuo who treated a relative when she had a
womanhood issue.
“Several mothers die every day in pastoral areas due to lack of access to
prenatal and antenatal services which I would like to assist after being a
qualified gynecologist,” Sophy adds.
The county top girl who is fully aware of the challenges girls in rural areas
of the county regularly face, believes that “what a boy can do,a girl can do it
even better.” She said parents should give the girl-child an equal
access to education like the boy-child.
The starlet also asked parents whose school-going daughters accidentally
got pregnant to give them another chance to go back to school.
Her parents Benson Nguthu and Lillian Benson could not hide their joy over
their daughter’s academic brilliance saying they were not surprised as she has
been performing exemplarily since her childhood.
The Mother, Mrs Benson who is a teacher at nearby Masikonde Secondary school
describes her daughter as a self-driven individual.
“Sophy is a self-driven person and as her parents we have never pushed her to
do anything. She knows when to read, when to do house chores and when to play. I
can describe her as a ‘perfect’ being,” said Mrs Benson.
She adds that Sophy who is the third born in the family of four girls was
disciplined and committed to her studies.
On his part, the father Mr Nguthu, a local businessman said he he is proud of
his daughter’s performance, adding that girls should never be discriminated
against.
Sophy’s two elder sisters equally performed well and one is studying Civil Engineering
while the other is pursuing a Commerce degree at different universities.
“With support, girls
can do even better than boys and can uplift the lives of their families,” adds Nguthu.
Sophy scored 89 (A) in English 93 (A) in Kiswahili, Maths 80(A), Science 75 (A-)
and Social Studies and Religion79 (A).