It is a statistical improbability that has stunned education experts and delighted a family in Nairobi. Fraternal twin sisters, Michelle and Maureen Kerina, have both scored straight As in the 2025 KCSE exams, separated by a single point despite attending different national schools.

The results, released yesterday, show Maureen Kerina (Alliance Girls High School) scored a perfect 84 points, while her sister Michelle Kerina (Loreto High School Limuru) scored a dazzling 83 points. The uncanny performance has sparked a national conversation about "nature vs. nurture" and the power of sibling rivalry.

A Pact Made in Childhood

In an emotional interview with Citizen TV, the sisters revealed a pact made four years ago. "When we joined Form One, we were separated for the first time," Maureen explained. "We promised each other that we would meet at the top. We didn't know it would be this literal."

Their father, Mr. Kerina, a visibly overwhelmed engineer, described the tension in the household on Friday morning. "We were checking Maureen's results first. When we saw the 'A', we celebrated. But then the fear set in—what if Michelle didn't match up? When the second SMS came in with an 'A', the house exploded."

Different Paths, Same Destination

The sisters' journey offers a fascinating case study in Kenya's education system.

• Alliance Girls (Maureen): Known for its "strong willed" culture and intense academic rigor, Alliance molded Maureen into a science powerhouse. She excelled in Physics and Chemistry, aiming for a career in Civil Engineering.
• Loreto Limuru (Michelle): The "Red Skirts" of Loreto emphasize holistic development. Michelle, who was also a drama club official, balanced her arts with sciences. She plans to pursue Medicine.

"We studied differently," Michelle noted. "Maureen is a morning person; I am a night owl. We exchanged notes during holidays, but our schools have very different teaching styles. It proves that there is no single formula for success."

The "Twin Effect" in 2025

Interestingly, this is not the only twin success story this year. In 2021, the wonder twins from Maseno School also scored As. Psychologists suggest that twins often act as "accountability partners," pushing each other to heights that solitary students might struggle to reach. For the Kerina family, the double victory means a double financial burden for university, but it is a "good problem" they are happy to have.