Nairobi — The boy who trounced 243,452 students to clinch top honours in last year's Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination says he wants to be president.

The 17-year-old boy, whose triumph brought Mt Elgon Hospital in Kitale - where his father is hospitalised - to a complete standstill as workers and relatives streamed in to be at the side of the new celebrity's father, talks big and sensible ideas for a boy his age, and very eloquently at that.

"This country's leadership needs to be a little bit more focused. The daily squabbles and wrangling is undermining all aspects of life," Dickenns Omanga Omosa told The Standard in a telephone interview moments after news of his spectacular success hit the airwaves.

Success came sweetly for Omanga, but it was somewhat clouded with a tinge of sadness. His father, Mr Charles Nyandieka, was admitted to hospital with a bout of malaria.

"There are some very good leaders around here, but they get distracted all the time by their own personal ambitions. These (ambitions) are usually not in the interest of others, because as they push their own agenda, education, health and infrastructure suffer."

Wants to study medicine

Omanga draws his inspiration from the writings of legendary author Charles Dickens - from whom he derives his own name. He believes that when someone has the mandate of the people, he should not let them down.

"The presidency is about leadership. You get it through the mandate of the people, who give you votes in the belief you will change the course of their lives and that of their country for the better. It's bad to let them down," says Omanga, an "A" student of History and Government, a subject, which together with the writings of Dickens shapes his thinking.

"If I was Head of State, I would push Government side in Parliament to pass more Bills, the technocrats to develop more policies. That way you begin to turn the wheels of development programmes, which are mainly designed around policies."

The irony, however, is that the former Friends School Kamusinga student, who has his eyes set on the presidency in 2037, wants to study medicine. At 10, and in primary school, he started reading Dickens, a writer of yore, whose writings have formed part of the set books of high school literature in Kenya.

"My name was Dick, but the influence of Dickens made me add two "ns" to look different," is how he explains the presence of "double n" in his name.

Father expected to be discharged any time

His father, Mr Nyandieka and his wife, Grace, were in Ward 8 when local television stations broadcast news of their son's performance. Omanga, the second born in a family of three, said his father would be discharged any time.

"It's the happiness I guess, he should be discharged today or tomorrow. God works miracles; he's just got better."

His excited parents "thanked the grace of God" for Omanga's sterling display. His elder sister, Ven, is a final-year student at Misikhu High School, while his little sister, Yvonne, is in Class Six at Lugulu Primary School, all in Western Province.

Omanga, who is used to winning ways, topped West Pokot District in the 2002 KCPE examinations.

"I put God first and then my work was smart, I expected to perform well but not this much," said Omanga whose advice to all candidates this year was, "Be diligent and work smart, not necessarily hard. Have time to play and do a whole lot of other things to express your creativity and potential."

Discipline and commitment

Though Omanga scored 430 marks in KCPE at St Mary Mission School, he failed to secure a place in any national school. But his father managed to get him a place at Kamusinga through the principal of Alliance Boys, Mr Christopher Khaemba.

"He was very obedient and highly disciplined," said his overjoyed father.

Nyandieka attributed his son's good performance to discipline and commitment.

"He was obedient and although we expected him to perform well, we are even more excited that he emerged the top student countrywide," he said.

Omanga's teacher, Mr John Chumo, said he had expected good results from the boy.

"He was bright he used to take position 1or 2 and I was sure he was going to do well," said Chumo.

Focused and serious girl

Elsewhere, the top girl, Caroline Mutuku Nzisa, celebrated with her former colleagues and teachers at the Aga Khan High school.

"I was sure of scoring straight 'As' but I did not imagine I would be the top girl in the country. I am so happy. I owe it to my parents, teachers and prayers to God," said the 18-year-old Mutuku in Mombasa.

She attributed her good performance to hard work, focus and prayer. The school's headmistress, Mrs Mariam Lavindia, described her as a focused and serious girl.

Mutuku's mother, Mrs Magdalene Mbula, shed tears of joy as she hugged her daughter, who wants to be a pilot. Mutuku's star started rising in Standard Eight at the little known Mikindani primary in Changamwe, where she scored 414 marks in KCPE in 2002.

Shocked and ecstatic

Meanwhile, Larry Mburu, the second best student in last year's KCSE, was at home when he received a call informing him of his good performance.

"I was speechless when my sister relayed the news that I was the second best performer in the country," said Larry.

A former student at Lenana High School, Larry was aiming for the top position but is content to be second. The Standard found Larry at his home in Kahawa West, where he had gathered with his parents and siblings to celebrate his good performance.

Mrs Susan Mburu, Larry's mother, was in her salon when she heard the announcement on television.

"I was shocked and ecstatic beyond words. I started jumping up and down screaming and immediately called my husband," she said.

Larry's father, Mr James Mburu, says he expected his son to do well.

"I expected him to be in the top 100 students but position two nationally came as a surprise to us," he says.

"I am not the type of student who reads throughout the night. I believe in making the best out of the time I am given. The idea is to work smart," says Larry.

Lifted shoulder high

The top student at the Coast, Parit Patel, 18, scored 'A' and was ranked position five nationally, while Salim Hashim Abdulkarim, who also well got 'A' was positioned six nationally.

The two candidates were lifted shoulder high by their fellow students from Allidina Visram High School.

An excited Patel said: "Though I worked hard I did not expect to be number three nationally but I am very happy that my dream has dawned."

Patel's mother, Sumitra, said her son worked very hard.

"My son was disciplined. He used to wake up at 3am, crawl out of bed to read," she said.

And Abdulkarim, 18, said he would study medicine. He added that his father, a mechanical engineer, and his mother inspired him to study hard.

"Discipline, hard work and prayers to God were all aspects behind my good performance," he said.