16-year-old Mercy Thoya, has impressed many after scoring 439 marks out of the maximum 500 marks in the 2018 KCPE exams, to become best female student in the Coastal region.
The pupil from Bambakofi Academy in Watamu, Kilifi County was only one mark shy of the best overall student in the larger Coastal region, Hassan Wanini Mvurya.
Wanini who is the son of Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya, sat for his exams at Likunda primary school in Ukunda, Kwale County and scored 440 marks.
Read: 2018 KCPE: Governor's son tops in Coast region, father responds
Speaking to the press as celebrations rocked her school, Thoya hopes to join Alliance Girls High School in Kiambu County.
"If you are a girl and you want to succeed in life concentrate in academics. We should not allow boys to intimidate us because education equalises and gives us equal opportunities to positively impact the world," she said.
The girl from a humble background hopes to be a surgeon.
"I am happy I have been the best in our county despite girls being under a lot of pressure from cultural beliefs. I worked hard and competed against my male counterparts. I come from a humble family, and that kept reminding me I must work hard in class," Thoya said.