A total of 270,715 candidates, representing 27.18 percent of the total 2025 KCSE candidates, have qualified for direct university entry with grade C+ and above, the Ministry of Education has confirmed.

Speaking in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, during the official release of the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said this represents a slight improvement over last year, when 246,391 candidates (25.53%) achieved C+ and above.

“This year, 1,932 candidates (0.19%) achieved straight As, up from 1,693 (0.18%) in 2024,” CS Ogamba said. “The numbers show steady progress in both overall performance and top achievers across the country.”

National schools produced the highest number of straight-A candidates at 1,526, followed by extra-county schools with 197 and private schools with 185.

Analysis of school categories shows that sub-county schools contributed more candidates in the C+ and above category than county schools, confirming a trend of rising performance in smaller, localized schools.

CS Ogamba noted, “This underscores the continued importance of strong teaching, discipline, and targeted support at all levels. Sub-county schools are closing the gap, and the quality of education in these schools is increasingly competitive.”

In 2025, 17 subjects recorded significant improvement, including English, Kiswahili, Mathematics, and Christian Religious Education, among others. Meanwhile, 11 subjects experienced a slight decline, including History and Government, Building and Construction, and Business Studies.

The Ministry observed that female candidates continue to excel in language and humanities subjects, while male candidates dominate in sciences and technical subjects — a trend consistent with previous years, though the gender gap is narrowing.

Most candidates fell within the appropriate age bracket of 17 to 19 years, accounting for 716,048 candidates (72.02%) of the total candidature.

The number of candidates aged 16 years and below rose from 20,546 (2.13%) in 2024 to 26,391 (2.65%) in 2025, showing increased participation of younger learners.

CS Ogamba reiterated the commitment to examination integrity, noting that 1,180 candidates were found to have engaged in malpractice, and their results were cancelled.

“We remain firm on upholding standards. Our examinations must be credible, transparent, and fair to all students,” he said.