Kisii Catholic Diocese Bishop Joseph Mairura Okemwa has urged candidates to embrace spirituality in their lives to achieve success beyond academic examinations.
He made the remarks while presiding over the opening of the new Christ the King Parish in Keroka town, where he celebrated Mass with candidates, teachers and parents from St. Charles Lwanga Ichuni Girls High School.
The colourful ceremony, held on Friday, October 30, preceded the start of written KCSE examination papers on Monday, November 2.
It brought together hundreds of faithful, candidates from neighbouring schools, teachers and parents who gathered to seek God's guidance during the examination period.
In his homily, Bishop Mairura said academic excellence alone was not enough to guarantee success in life.
He noted that true success comes when knowledge is anchored in faith, discipline, humility and fear of God.
He urged candidates to remain prayerful, focused and honest throughout the examination period.
"As you go into the examination rooms, carry God with you. When you put God first, you will have peace of mind, you will have wisdom and you will have the courage to do what is right. Cheating may give you marks on paper but it will steal your future," Bishop Mairura said.
Bishop warns against examination malpractice
The bishop cautioned candidates against examination malpractice, peer pressure and anxiety, reminding them that their future was not determined by one examination alone but by the values they developed over time.
He called on parents and teachers to continue offering moral and spiritual support to learners rather than putting undue pressure on them.
He said the Catholic Church would continue praying for candidates across Kisii and Nyamira counties and the country at large for a peaceful and successful examination period.
The candidates were later anointed and blessed by the bishop as they prepared for the three-week examination period.
The new Christ the King Parish brings the number of parishes in the diocese to 45, according to the bishop.
It will be headed by Rev. Fr. Benard Nyangeri, who was transferred from Rangenyo Parish in Nyamira County.
The parish, established to serve the growing Catholic population in Masaba South, will cater for faithful from Keroka town and its environs.
Bishop Mairura said the creation of the new parish was part of the diocese's plan to bring pastoral services closer to the people and strengthen evangelisation.
He thanked Christians for their generosity and sacrifices in building the church and urged them to remain united and support the new parish priest in his pastoral mission.
School targets improved KCSE performance
St. Charles Lwanga Ichuni Girls High School Principal Dr. Benidnah Ogeto expressed optimism that the school would perform well in this year's examinations, citing adequate preparation by candidates and teachers.
She attributed the school's preparedness to the early completion of the syllabus, mock examinations, revision papers and internal assessments.
In the 2025 KCSE examinations, whose results were released on January 9, 2026, the school recorded a mean score of 8.0 points, equivalent to a mean grade of B- (minus).
A total of 541 out of 602 candidates attained C+ and above, translating to approximately 90 per cent qualifying for direct university entry.
In the 2024 KCSE examinations, the school achieved a milestone when 72 per cent of its 598 candidates attained the minimum university entry grade.
The school recorded a mean score of 7.331, equivalent to a mean grade of C+ (plus).
In 2023, the school had 363 out of 658 candidates attaining C+ and above, representing a university qualification rate of 55.17 per cent, with a mean score of 6.6231.
The school hopes to build on this performance as its candidates sit the 2026 KCSE examinations.
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