Mt Kenya, Western dominate list of KCSE top performers

Schools from Mt Kenya and western Kenya regions have dominated the crucial C+ and above threshold, the minimum qualification for direct university admission.

This is despite representing a smaller fraction of total candidature nationally. These counties include Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang’a, Kirinyaga and parts of Nakuru in Central and Kakamega, Vihiga and Bungoma in Western.

In last year’s exam, 27.2 per cent of all KCSE candidates attained C+ and above, a slight improvement from 25.5 per cent recorded in 2024.

A total of 993,226 candidates sat the examination. Out of this, 1,932 candidates, representing 0.19 per cent, attained the overall mean grade of A.

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

Overall, the number of candidates who attained the direct university entry qualification of mean grade C+ (plus) and above stood at 270,715, representing 27.18 per cent, while those who scored mean grade C– (minus) and above totalled 507,131, or 50.92 per cent.

The high-performing counties, however, cluster overwhelmingly in Mt Kenya and Western Kenya, regions historically associated with stronger schooling infrastructure, higher transition rates and denser concentrations of national and extra-county schools.

In contrast, counties in arid and semi-arid lands and parts of the Coast continue to record significantly lower proportions of candidates meeting the university cut-off, weighed down by over-age candidature, school interruptions and resource gaps. These counties include Turkana, Garissa, Mandera, Wajir, Tana River and Kwale.

The data further shows national and extra-county schools, which produce the majority of C+ (plus) and above grades, are disproportionately located in Mt Kenya, Rift Valley and Western regions.

National schools produced 85 per cent of A (plain) to C+ (plus) grades, extra-county schools contributed 51 per cent to the grades bracket, while subcounty schools, which host the majority of candidates nationally, produced the bulk of D and below grades

The results come amidst a national debate among Kenyans regarding disproportionate development of school infrastructure in different regions, a discussion that was triggered by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

Gachagua last weekend claimed that despite many of the top national and extra-county being located in Mt Kenya, students from the region were being admitted in less privileged and resourced schools in other parts of the country. In this regard, he argued that  that some top national schools such as Alliance High School and Mang’u, which are in Kaimbu county, should prioritise students from the region.

The remarks have sparked vigorous public discussion, with President William Ruto accusing him of tribal reasoning.

The former DP’s comments come against the backdrop of long-running concerns about marginalisation and disproportionate resource allocation.

Supporters of his position argue that leaders in Mt Kenya region have invested their National Government Constituencies Development Fund resources to improve the status of the schools in the region, and thus students from the areas should be the first beneficiaries.

Critics, however, have argued that Gachagua’s argument is tribal and that national schools should prioritise the top brains from across the country.

Knec figures show that while national schools produced more of the top grades, extra-county and county schools in Mt Kenya also outperformed their counterparts in many other regions, contributing significantly to the pool of C+ and above candidates.

For instance, Kiambu, Murang’a and Nyeri posted high candidature numbers and strong pass rates.

In Western, Kakamega and Vihiga counties produced large numbers of university-eligible candidates despite operating with fewer national schools than Central.

While Mt Kenya and Western regions dominate the C+ (plus) and above category, the same data underscores persistent marginalisation elsewhere.

Meanwhile arid and semi-arid counties such as Turkana, Garissa, Mandera and Wajir continue to record low transition to university eligibility, compounded by high proportions of over-age candidates and male-dominated enrolment.