CS Ogamba Releases 2025 KCSE Results: 993,226 Candidates Sit Exams, 1,932 Score Grade A

ELDORET, KENYA — Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba Friday released the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination results, revealing that 993,226 candidates sat for the national examinations with notable gender performance disparities across different subject areas.

The announcement, made in Eldoret, disclosed that female students outnumbered their male counterparts, with 501,214 girls sitting for the examination compared to 492,019 boys—marking a significant milestone in gender parity within Kenya’s secondary education system.

National Performance Statistics

Of the total candidates, 1,932 students achieved the coveted Grade A, representing the top tier of academic excellence in the 2025 examination cycle.

Approximately 270,000 students attained a grade of C+ and above, the minimum qualification threshold for direct university entry under Kenya’s higher education admission criteria.

However, more than 720,000 candidates scored C- grade and below, highlighting ongoing challenges in improving overall academic performance across the secondary education sector.

Gender Performance Patterns

Analysis of subject-specific performance revealed distinct gender trends across the curriculum, according to the Cabinet Secretary’s announcement.

Female candidates demonstrated superior performance in languages and humanities, outperforming male students in English, Kiswahili, Christian Religious Education, and Sign Language.

Conversely, male students recorded stronger results in science subjects, particularly excelling in Chemistry and Physics compared to their female counterparts.

Female Participation Concerns

The Cabinet Secretary noted that female student participation represented approximately 50 percent of the original projected number expected to sit for the examinations, raising questions about retention rates and completion challenges facing girls in secondary education.

This attrition pattern suggests significant numbers of female students who began secondary education did not complete the full four-year cycle to sit for KCSE examinations.

Examination Administration

The marking exercise involved 30,980 teachers who evaluated examination scripts across all subject areas, working within strict timelines to ensure timely results processing and release.

The large-scale marking operation represented a logistical undertaking coordinated by the Kenya National Examination Council to maintain examination integrity and accuracy.

Irregularities Reported

Cabinet Secretary Ogamba disclosed that 1,180 students are currently under investigation for examination irregularities, with cases being processed through established protocols.

The nature and extent of the alleged irregularities were not immediately specified, though KNEC maintains strict policies against examination malpractice including cheating, impersonation, and other forms of academic dishonesty.

Results Access

Individual candidate results have been made available through the Kenya National Examination Council’s online platform, allowing students to retrieve their performance data by entering examination index numbers.

The digital portal was activated earlier this week in preparation for the official release, ensuring technical infrastructure could accommodate the substantial volume of concurrent access requests from candidates, parents, and educational institutions nationwide.

Educational Implications

The 2025 KCSE results provide critical data for university placement processes, technical and vocational training institution admissions, and broader analysis of Kenya’s secondary education performance trends.

The gender performance disparities across subject areas reinforce ongoing discussions regarding curriculum delivery, teaching methodologies, and strategies to address subject-specific gender gaps in academic achievement.

The substantial number of candidates scoring below university entry threshold highlights continued challenges in raising overall educational outcomes and ensuring students acquire competencies necessary for tertiary education success.

Education stakeholders will analyze the detailed performance statistics to inform policy adjustments, resource allocation decisions, and pedagogical interventions aimed at improving future examination outcomes.

The results release marks the beginning of the university placement process, with the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service expected to commence student selection and admission procedures in coming weeks.