Ogamba Releases 2025 KCSE Results as Kenya Enters Final Chapter of 8-4-4 Education System

By Wasike Elvis

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba on Friday officially released the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results, marking a defining moment in Kenya’s education history as the country approaches the final phase-out of the 8-4-4 system and accelerates the transition to Competency-Based Education (CBE).

The release ceremony, held at A.I.C. Chebisaas Boys Secondary School in Eldoret, drew senior government officials, education stakeholders, school heads and parents, underscoring the national significance of the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, Ogamba described the 2025 KCSE cohort as a bridge generation, linking a system that has shaped Kenyan education for four decades with a new learning framework designed to equip learners with practical skills, creativity and adaptability.

“This is the third-to-last cohort under the KCSE examination even as we celebrate the progression of the first cohort under Competency-Based Education into senior school. Today represents both an end and a beginning,” Ogamba said.

According to data released by the Ministry of Education, 993,226 candidates sat the 2025 KCSE examination, reflecting an increase of 30,714 candidates (3.19 per cent) compared to the 2024 cohort.

Of the total candidates, 501,214 were female while 492,012 were male, marking the second consecutive year in which female candidates outnumbered male candidates at the national level—an indicator, Ogamba noted, of improving gender parity in access to secondary education.

The candidates were drawn from 10,765 secondary schools across the country and examined in 30 subjects using 74 examination papers over a 24-day period from October 21 to November 21, 2025.

Improved Performance Recorded Nationally

The Cabinet Secretary reported a general improvement in performance, attributing the gains to increased government investment in teachers, infrastructure and examination integrity.

A total of 1,932 candidates (0.19 per cent) attained the top Grade A (plain), an increase from 1,693 candidates recorded in 2024.

Candidates qualifying for direct university entry with a C+ and above rose to 270,715 (27.18 per cent), while those attaining C- and above—the minimum requirement for middle-level colleges—stood at 507,131 (50.92 per cent).

Additionally, the number of candidates scoring D+ and above, considered a basic pass grade, increased to 634,082 (63.67 per cent).

National schools once again led in the production of top grades, accounting for 1,526 Grade A results, followed by Extra County and private schools. However, Sub-County schools recorded a higher number of candidates attaining C+ and above compared to County schools, a trend the CS said reflects the impact of targeted government interventions in marginalized and rural areas.

On subject analysis, the Ministry reported that 17 subjects showed significant improvement, while 11 subjects recorded a decline in overall performance.

Female candidates continued to outperform males in languages and humanities, including English, Kiswahili, Christian Religious Education (CRE) and Art & Design. Male candidates, on the other hand, registered stronger performance in Mathematics, sciences and technical subjects.

Education experts present at the event noted that the trends mirror long-standing gender patterns and reinforce the need for targeted interventions to encourage balanced subject uptake and performance.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to examination integrity, Ogamba disclosed that 1,180 candidates were found culpable of examination irregularities, leading to the cancellation of their results.

“Examination malpractice undermines the credibility of our education system and disadvantages honest candidates. We will continue to enforce strict measures to protect the integrity of national examinations,” the CS warned.

Ogamba highlighted major government investments aimed at strengthening learning outcomes as the country transitions to CBE.

Since 2023, the government has recruited 100,000 teachers, promoted 25,000 teachers, and constructed 23,000 new classrooms to address congestion in public schools. He announced that the Ministry plans to build 1,600 laboratories in senior schools this year to support science and technical pathways under the new curriculum.

In a move welcomed by school heads, the CS revealed that Ksh 44.2 billion in capitation was disbursed to public basic education institutions ahead of school opening, marking the first such early disbursement in over a decade.

On higher education, Ogamba said KCSE candidates transitioning to universities and colleges will benefit from the Student-Centred Funding Model, which allocates scholarships and loans based on individual financial need.

He further announced that tuition fees in public universities have been reduced by between 15 and 40 per cent, with semester fees now ranging from Ksh 5,800 to Ksh 75,000, easing the financial burden on families.

The Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Amb. Prof. Julius K. Bitok, praised the smooth administration of the 2025 KCSE examinations and assured Kenyans that the transition to Competency-Based Education remains firmly on course.

He disclosed that the Ministry is undertaking a second review of Grade 10 placements following concerns raised by parents and guardians, aimed at ensuring fairness, equity and optimal learner distribution across senior schools.

Prof. Bitok also said preparations for Grade 9 and Grade 10 under CBE are progressing well, including the timely delivery of textbooks to meet the targeted learner-to-textbook ratio.

KNEC Chief Executive Officer Dr. David Njengere said the successful administration of the 2025 KCSE examination was made possible by the deployment of 633 distribution containers and the engagement of 107,447 contracted professionals, including supervisors, invigilators, security officers and drivers.

A total of 30,980 examiners marked the examinations across 40 marking centres between November 17 and December 18, 2025.

Looking ahead, Dr. Njengere announced that registration portals for KPSEA, KJSEA and KCSE will open in February 2026, urging school heads to ensure accurate registration to avoid learners being locked out.

He also revealed that KNEC has established 235 Senior School hubs across the 47 counties and launched a free online self-paced training portal to equip teachers with skills in Competency-Based Assessment

KNEC Chairman Prof. Julius Nyabundi said the examination process faced logistical challenges, particularly severe flooding in parts of northern Kenya, but emphasized that no candidate was disadvantaged.

“Despite the floods and logistical constraints, all candidates were served. This success reflects strong coordination between KNEC, the Ministry of Education and other government agencies,” Nyabundi said.

He warned that examination cheating remains a serious threat and called for collective action to safeguard the credibility of Kenyan certification.

The release of the 2025 KCSE results comes at a pivotal moment as Kenya prepares to fully roll out Senior School under Competency-Based Education in 2026, with assessments spread across Grades 10, 11 and 12 culminating in the Kenya Certificate of Basic Education (KCBE).

As thousands of candidates now chart their next academic and career paths, education stakeholders say the 2025 KCSE cohort will be remembered not only for their results, but for standing at the crossroads of two education systems—closing one chapter while ushering in another.