The former Kenya U-18 star went from scoring 185 marks at KCPE to a remarkable C+ grade in KCSE.
“I always had the desire and courage to want to play football,” Humphrey Aroko says, wiping away sweat and catching his breath after helping his boyhood club, Kariobangi Sharks, secure a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Mathare United at Dandora Stadium.
Aroko has been making headlines recently, not just for his performances on the pitch but for an achievement that has inspired many—scoring a C+ in the 2024 KCSE exams. This grade, which meets Kenya’s university entry requirements, marks a triumphant turning point in the young footballer’s journey.
While a C+ may seem average to some, Aroko’s achievement tells a deeper story. Rewind to 2021, and his academic future appeared bleak. Scoring just 185 marks in the KCPE exams, he faced what seemed like insurmountable odds of progressing to high school, let alone excelling.
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At the time, Aroko was a promising young talent coming through Kariobangi Sharks’ youth system, where his technical ability and on-the-ball skills caught the attention of scouts. Among them was Beldine Odemba, a visionary coach who would later gain national recognition for leading Highway Secondary School to the East African school games in 2022.
As Odemba scouted players to build a competitive team for Highway Secondary School, she encountered Aroko, who was grappling with self-doubt and uncertainty about his future.
Recognising his raw talent and strong character, Odemba convinced Highway’s principal, Patrick Irungu, to offer Aroko admission despite his low KCPE score.
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True to Odemba’s belief, Aroko thrived at Highway Secondary. While he initially focused on football, he quickly learned to balance academics and athletics, a skill that would later define his success. His dedication helped Highway reclaim its national football dominance, culminating in their triumphant run to the 2024 national finals.
Although Highway narrowly lost to Uganda in the tournament final held on home soil in Kisumu, Aroko’s standout performances earned him recognition with Kenya’s U-18 national team.
By the time his final year in high school rolled around, he was determined to excel both on and off the field.
“When I joined high school, they told me KCSE was different from KCPE,” Aroko shares. “They encouraged me to believe that my primary school performance didn’t define my future.”
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This newfound perspective motivated him to make difficult decisions, including turning down a call-up to the Kenya U-20 squad for the CECAFA AFCON-U20 qualifiers in Tanzania. Instead, Aroko chose to focus on his KCSE exams.
“I learned how to prioritise,” he says. “During term three, I put my studies first, and that focus paid off.”
Now, with high school behind him, Aroko’s focus shifts to the future. Recently called up to the U-20 national team, he is eager to contribute to Kenya’s campaign at the upcoming U-20 AFCON in Ivory Coast this April.
“It’s an honor to represent my country,” he says. “I missed the CECAFA qualifiers because of exams, but I was hopeful the team would qualify. Now, I want to make my mark at the AFCON if I make the final squad.”
Beyond the national team, Aroko has set his sights on gaining more playing time with Kariobangi Sharks as he works toward his ultimate goal: playing in Europe.
“The more game time I get, the more confident I’ll become,” he says. “If I earn trials in the future, this experience will help me succeed. I’m confident I’ll make it.”
Despite his football ambitions, Aroko hasn’t ruled out returning to school to pursue higher education.
“I’m not done with school; I’m just taking a break,” he explains. “Once I achieve my football targets, I’ll go back.”