KNEC Releases 2025 KCSE Results
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba has officially released the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results, marking a critical milestone for nearly one million candidates who sat the national examination across the country.
The results were announced on Friday at AIC Chebisaas High School in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, bringing to a close an examination cycle that began on October 21 and concluded on November 21, 2025, after five weeks of continuous assessment.
A total of 993,000 candidates sat the 2025 KCSE examination. Of these, 492,019 were male while 501,214 were female, reflecting near gender parity in candidature. Candidates were examined in 30 subjects using a total of 74 papers.
Speaking during the release, Ogamba commended stakeholders involved in the administration of the examination, citing improved coordination and integrity measures.
“The successful conduct of the 2025 KCSE examinations reflects the commitment of our teachers, invigilators, security agencies and all education stakeholders,” Ogamba said.
According to data released by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), 270,715 candidates — representing 27.18 per cent of the total cohort — attained a mean grade of C+ and above, qualifying them for direct university entry. Girls accounted for approximately 50 per cent of the total candidature.
The examination recorded 1,932 candidates attaining grade A, marking an increase in top performers compared to previous years. National schools led in producing top achievers, accounting for 1,526 candidates with an overall mean grade of A, followed by Extra County schools with 197 and Private schools with 185.
Performance trends showed steady improvement across several grade thresholds. Candidates scoring C- and above rose to 507,131 (50.92 per cent), up from 49.41 per cent in 2024. Those who attained D+ and above totalled 634,082 (63.67 per cent), an increase from 62.76 per cent the previous year.
In a notable shift, Sub-County schools outperformed County schools in direct university qualification, producing 72,699 candidates with C+ and above, compared to 36,600 from County schools.
KNEC reported a reduction in examination irregularities, with 418 candidates implicated in malpractice, down from 614 cases recorded in 2024.
“This decline demonstrates the effectiveness of enhanced monitoring and exam security measures,” KNEC said in its report.
Age analysis revealed a rise in younger candidates, with those aged 16 years and below increasing to 26,391 (2.65 per cent), up from 20,546 in 2024. However, the majority of candidates — 716,048, representing 72.02 per cent — were aged between 17 and 19 years.
Subject performance was mixed. Seventeen subjects recorded significant improvement, matching the number seen in 2024, while performance declined in 11 subjects, slightly higher than the previous year.
Gender analysis showed female candidates outperforming males in six subjects, including English, Kiswahili, Kenyan Sign Language, Home Science, Christian Religious Education, and Art and Design. Male candidates recorded higher mean scores in 11 subjects, including Mathematics, Sciences, and Business Studies.
Following the release, candidates can access their provisional results through the official KNEC portal. They are required to enter their index number and examination year as registered with KNEC.
In a significant policy shift, the Ministry of Education announced that KCSE certificates will now be collected from sub-county education offices rather than former schools, a move aimed at addressing delays caused by unpaid school fees.
Earlier, President William Ruto was briefed on the results at Eldoret State Lodge, in line with established practice.
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KNEC Releases 2025 KCSE Results
