NAIROBI, Kenya — The Ministry of Education has confirmed that the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination results will be released next week on Thursday, ending weeks of anxiety among candidates and parents.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba said the release is proceeding as scheduled, despite concerns from some parents over what they termed an unusual delay.
“The release is on schedule,” Ogamba said, noting that the ministry has maintained its recent practice of announcing KCSE results in January.
A total of 929,262 candidates who sat the national examinations, which ran from October 21 to November 14, 2025, are expected to receive their results.
New certificate collection arrangement
In a significant shift, successful candidates will now collect their KCSE certificates from sub-county education offices, rather than from their former schools.
The move, according to the ministry, is intended to curb persistent disputes between schools and parents over outstanding fee arrears, which have in the past delayed the release of certificates.
The decision follows repeated warnings by the Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) against schools that withhold certificates to compel payment of school fees or the return of school property.
KNEC has maintained that it is illegal for schools to retain candidates’ certificates under any circumstances and has directed affected students to report such cases to the Sub-County Director of Education.
“Any candidate whose certificate is withheld should report to the sub-county director of education,” KNEC said in a recent advisory.
Irregularities and marking disruption
During the 2025 KCSE examination period, 418 candidates were reported for various examination irregularities.
The marking process also faced a temporary setback after about 800 examiners stationed at Maryhill Girls High School in Thika downed their tools on November 30, protesting poor working conditions and inadequate communication from the ministry.
KNEC later confirmed that the standoff had been resolved, saying all examiners had been paid in full and dismissing claims that coordination fees were outstanding.
Longstanding tensions over certificates
For years, school principals have argued that releasing certificates before fees are cleared exposes institutions to financial losses, citing difficulties in tracing former students.
Some schools have also reportedly held certificates over unreturned textbooks, laboratory equipment or unresolved disciplinary cases.
However, KNEC has reiterated that schools have no legal authority to deny candidates access to their academic credentials, regardless of fee balances or other disputes.
With the results now set for release, attention is expected to shift to placement, admissions and certificate collection arrangements ahead of the next academic transition.
