A total of 993,226 candidates sat the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations in 2025, compared to 962,512 candidates in 2024 — an increase of about 3.2 per cent in candidature.
In 2025, 1,932 candidates attained an A plain, representing approximately 0.19 per cent of all candidates. This was an increase from 1,693 candidates in 2024, who accounted for about 0.18 per cent of the total candidature that year.
Despite the numerical increase, the proportion of top scorers remained below one-quarter of one percent in both years.
According to Ministry of Education data, about 270,000 candidates qualified for direct university entry in 2025. This translates to roughly 27.2 per cent of all candidates.
In comparison, about 246,000 candidates qualified for direct university entry in 2024, accounting for approximately 25.6 per cent of those who sat the examinations.
This indicates a 1.6 percentage point increase in the share of candidates meeting minimum university entry requirements between 2024 and 2025.
While the growth in A plains was marginal in proportional terms, the data shows a more pronounced expansion in the number and proportion of candidates crossing the university entry threshold.
Overall, the KCSE results for both years continue to display a steep performance distribution, with a very small proportion achieving the highest grade and roughly one quarter of candidates qualifying for direct university admission.
While day schools accounted for a substantial number of qualifiers (72,000), the consistent dominance of top national schools in producing A grades reflects enduring disparities in resources, facilities, and teaching quality.
Moreover, gender parity was maintained in the candidature, with girls making up 50 percent of candidates, a key win for access. But further data is needed to determine if performance outcomes were equally distributed.
The 2025 results also carry historical significance. With the CBE rollout nearing its final stretch, this cohort is among the last under the 8-4-4 system.
The last KCSE exam will be in 2027, coinciding with Kenya’s next general election — a politically charged period that could further complicate the education transition.
As Kenya gears towards full adoption of Competency-Based Education (CBE), the 2025 KCSE results offer valuable insights but also reinforce the urgent need for reforms in teacher distribution, curriculum delivery, school resourcing, and post-secondary pathways.
