Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba officially released the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSECSE) results on 9 January.

While the release celebrated thousands of academic milestones, it also revealed a striking shift in student demographics across the country.

For the first time in recent national history, more girls than boys registered for the final secondary school assessment.

Education CS Julius Ogamba releases the 2025 KCSE results at the AIC Chebisaas Boys’ High School in Uasin Gishu county, January 9, 2026. /JULIUS OGAMBA/X

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A Shift in the Numbers

According to the data provided by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC), a total of 993,226 candidates sat for the 2025 exams in 10,765 schools. Of this total, 501,214 were female, while 492,012 were male.

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This national trend was driven by 12 specific counties where female candidates significantly outnumbered their male counterparts.

Vihiga County recorded the highest female entry at 55.9%, followed closely by Elgeyo Marakwet at 55.06%. Other major counties leading this shift included Kisumu (53.87%), Kiambu (53.23%), and Kwale (53.19%).

"14 counties had a significant entry of more female than male candidates," CS Julius Migos Ogamba noted during the release.

The capital, Nairobi, also saw more girls with 52.9%, while Kakamega, Meru, Isiolo, Uasin Gishu, Busia, and Tharaka Nithi followed the same pattern.

Education CS Julius Ogamba and Basic Education PS Julius Bitok release the 2025 KCSE results at the AIC Chebisaas Boys’ High School in Uasin Gishu county, January 9, 2026. /JULIUS OGAMBA/X

The Gender Leaders

While female registration soared in some areas, 10 counties maintained a higher male presence. Garissa recorded the largest gap, with 66.24% male candidates compared to 33.76% female. Other regions such as Mandera, Wajir, and Turkana also saw more boys sitting for the exams.

ALSO READ: How to Check KCSE 2025 Results Online: A Step-by-Step Guide for Candidates

Near-perfect gender parity was achieved in 23 counties, including Embu, Kisii, Bomet, and Nakuru.

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Performance and Integrity

The 2025 results show a strong performance for the cohort. A total of 270,715 students achieved a mean grade of C+ or above, securing direct entry into university. Furthermore, 1,932 students obtained a straight A, and 634,082 candidates reached the pass grade of D+ or higher.

However, the Ministry maintained a strict stance on exam integrity. The results for 1,180 students were cancelled due to examination irregularities. The exams were conducted over 24 days, with students being tested in 30 subjects across 74 different papers.

KCSE 2025 Results // x

Accessing the Scores

Candidates can now check their performance via the official portal at results.knec.ac.ke. Students must enter their index number and one of their names.

The rise in female participation in counties like Kiambu and Nairobi reflects years of government and NGO advocacy for "Girl Child" education.

Historically, higher male registration in regions like Garissa and Mandera has been linked to socio-economic factors, though the gap continues to narrow as school enrollment rates improve nationwide.