In a historic shift, the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exam results, released by Cabinet Secretary for Education Julius Migos Ogamba on January 9, 2025, reveal that female candidates outnumbered their male counterparts for the first time.
A total of 962,512 candidates sat for the exams, marking a 7.19% increase from the previous year. This year’s release also highlights key improvements in overall performance and a significant milestone in the country’s education sector as it transitions towards Competency-Based Education (CBE).
For the first time in KCSE history, female candidates outnumbered male candidates. A total of 482,202 females (50.1%) sat for the exams, surpassing the 480,310 males (49.9%). While males outnumbered females in 14 counties, females led in 14 others.
In terms of performance, 246,391 candidates (25.53%) attained the direct university entry qualification of grade C+ and above, up from 201,133 in 2023. The overall pass rate improved to 62.76%, up from 58.27% the previous year.
The Ministry of Education introduced personalized and anonymized examination question papers to boost exam integrity. However, 840 candidates had their results cancelled due to exam irregularities, while 2,829 others had their results withheld pending further investigation. Disciplinary action will also be taken against 91 professionals implicated in aiding malpractice.
This release marks a key transition as Kenya continues to implement Competency-Based Education (CBE), with the first cohort of CBE learners, currently in Grade 9, expected to move to Grade 10 in 2026.
Additionally, the Cabinet Secretary confirmed the introduction of a mid-year KCSE exam series starting in July, aimed at candidates who need to repeat exams or missed them due to illness or other issues.
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