The number of candidates aged 16 years and below sitting for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) increased from 20,546 (2.13%) in 2024 to 26,391 (2.65%) in 2025, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba has revealed.
Speaking during the release of the 2025 KCSE results at Chebissas Boys Secondary School in Eldoret on January 8, 2026, CS Ogamba said the majority of candidates were within the appropriate age bracket of 17 to 19 years, accounting for 716,048 (72.02%) of all candidates.
In terms of subject performance, male candidates recorded higher mean scores in 11 subjects, including Mathematics (Alternatives A and B), Biology, Chemistry, General Science, History & Government, Geography, IRE, Building & Construction, and Business Studies. Performance was similar for both male and female candidates in seven subjects: Physics, Agriculture, Computer Studies, French, German, Arabic, and Music. However, the number of female candidates in Metalwork, Power Mechanics, Electricity, Drawing & Design, and Aviation Technology was too small to allow meaningful comparison with male candidates.
CS Ogamba also explained how candidates can access their results online. The results are available through the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) website or directly at results.knec.ac.ke. Candidates need to enter their index number and any one of their names as registered for the 2025 KCSE examination. The results are live and accessible immediately after the announcement.
Overall, 1,932 candidates obtained an overall mean grade of A (plain). National schools led with 1,526 of these top grades, followed by Extra County schools with 197 and private schools with 185. This is an improvement from 2024, when 1,693 candidates achieved an A.
A total of 270,715 candidates (27.18%) qualified for direct university entry with a mean grade of C+ and above, up from 246,391 candidates (25.53%) in 2024. Candidates scoring C- and above increased to 507,131 (50.92%) from 476,889 (49.41%), while those attaining a pass grade of D+ and above rose to 634,082 (63.67%) from 605,774 (62.76%). Sub-County schools recorded more candidates with C+ and above than County schools, at 72,699 and 36,600 respectively.
CS Ogamba confirmed that 1,180 candidates were involved in examination irregularities during the 2025 KCSE. A total of 993,226 candidates sat for the exams, up 3.19% from 962,512 in 2024. Of these, 492,012 were male (49.54%) and 501,214 were female (50.46%), marking the second consecutive year that female candidates outnumbered males. However, ten counties recorded more male than female candidates.
CS Ogamba concluded: “It is now my humble duty and privilege to declare the 2025 KCSE examination results officially released. I wish all candidates success in their future endeavors.”
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