ELDORET, Kenya — Mathematics emerged as the best-performing subject in the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examinations, marking a slight improvement in overall results compared to last year, Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba announced on Friday.
Speaking during the release of the results, CS Ogamba said the 2025 KCSE was graded under the newly reviewed grading system, which confirmed Mathematics as the strongest subject across both language subjects — including English, Kiswahili, and Sign Language — and the top five subjects overall.
“Mathematics remains a compulsory and key determinant of the overall grade, and it has emerged as the best-performing subject in the 2025 KCSE examination,” Ogamba said.
A total of 1,932 candidates, representing 0.19% of all students, attained a mean grade of A (plain), up from 1,693 candidates (0.18%) in 2024.
The number of students eligible for direct university entry with a mean grade of C+ and above rose to 270,715 (27.18%) in 2025, from 246,391 (25.53%) the previous year.
Candidates achieving C- and above reached 507,131 (50.92%), while those attaining a pass grade of D+ and above increased to 634,082 (63.67%).
CS Ogamba noted a mixed trend across subjects, with 17 recording improved performance, while 11 showed a decline compared to 2024.
Gender analysis revealed female students performed better in six language subjects, while male students outperformed females in 11 other subjects.
Demographically, the proportion of candidates aged 16 years and below rose from about 20,000 in 2024 to 26,391 in 2025, while the majority of candidates fell within the appropriate age range for the examination.
“These results reflect both areas of progress and those that require targeted intervention as we continue to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes across the country,” Ogamba said.
The improved KCSE results suggest a positive trend in Kenya’s education system, with more students meeting requirements for higher education and vocational training pathways.
