In a battle of brains that saw some of the sharpest young minds clash over numbers and formulas, Nyangwa Boys High School emerged as the undisputed champion of the annual University of Embu Mathematics Contest.
The contest brought together the region’s top-performing schools and saw Njuri High School clinch third place. At the same time, the Chuka Boys put up an intense fight to secure the second position.
It was a day of intense calculations, swift mental arithmetic, and deep problem-solving as students pushed their limits under the watchful eyes of university lecturers.
The contest, ranked based on the average performances of Form Three and Form Four students, was about winning and sharpening the students’ love for mathematics—a goal that the University of Embu has been championing for years.
Stars of the Contest
Amid the heated competition, Collins Murimi of Nyangwa Boys stood out as the best overall Form Four student, demonstrating exceptional mastery of numbers. Jonathan Mugambi, also from Nyangwa High School, dominated the Form Three category, leaving competitors in awe of his mathematical prowess.
But the ladies were not left behind. Mati Winjoy from Njuri High School shattered the stereotype that mathematics is a boys’ game by clinching the title of best female student in the Form Four category. In the Form Three category, Miriam Kawira of Mariari Secondary proved her mettle, emerging as the best-performing female student.
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The contest also celebrated students from day schools, proving that talent is everywhere. James Murimi from St. Mary’s Kiumbu Secondary and Kinyua Alex Mukundi from Ena Secondary outshone their peers. At the same time, Lyan Hesron from Muvandori was crowned the best overall day secondary school student.
Breaking Stereotypes
Dr Dominic Kitavi, the Head of the Mathematics and Statistics Department at the School of Pure and Applied Sciences, praised the significant performance improvement compared to the previous year.
However, he had a special message for girls: “The belief that mathematics and sciences are for men is outdated. Girls should continue embracing and excelling in these subjects. Mathematics is for everyone!”
His words echoed the contest’s larger goal—to identify the best students and inspire more young minds, especially girls, to love and appreciate mathematics.
As the University of Embu continues to host this contest annually, the dream is that more students will embrace mathematics not as a complex subject but as a gateway to endless possibilities in careers such as engineering, medicine, data science, and technology.
By Brian Kaleti
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