Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba officially released the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) results on Thursday, January 9, 2024. Speaking at Mitihani House, the CS highlighted the government’s commitment to enhancing access to higher education for all candidates.
“This year, 962,512 candidates sat for the national exams, and we have cleared all of them to join various higher learning institutions to pursue careers of their choice,” Ogamba stated.
Results Withheld and Exam Malpractice
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) nullified the results of 840 candidates due to confirmed cases of exam malpractice. Additionally, results for 2,899 candidates have been withheld pending investigations, which are expected to conclude within 30 days.
Improved Performance in Top Grades
The 2024 KCSE results showed significant improvement in academic performance compared to 2023, particularly among top-performing students. A total of 1,693 candidates earned Grade A, up from 1,216 in the previous year.
Of these, 556 were female, while 1,137 were male. The distribution of other top grades was as follows:
- Grade A-: 7,743 students (2,840 female, 4,903 male)
- Grade B+: 19,150 students (8,108 female, 11,042 male)
- Grade B: 43,120 students (19,781 female, 23,339 male)
- Grade B-: 75,347 students (36,855 female, 38,492 male)
A total of 246,391 candidates achieved a grade of C+ or higher, qualifying them for direct university admission.
Full Breakdown of Grades
The full results revealed gender disparities across most grades. The distribution of grades is as follows:
- Grade C+: 99,338 students (50,397 female, 48,940 male)
- Grade C: 111,717 students (57,948 female, 53,769 male)
- Grade C-: 118,781 students (62,606 female, 56,175 male)
- Grade D+: 128,885 students (69,797 female, 60,088 male)
- Grade D: 153,334 students (79,832 female, 73,501 male)
- Grade D-: 151,487 students (72,181 female, 79,306 male)
Male Students Lead in Grade E
The number of students scoring Grade E, the lowest category, increased slightly in 2024. A total of 48,333 candidates received Grade E, up from 48,174 in 2023.
Of the 2024 candidates:
- 20,112 were female
- 28,221 were male
This reflects a persistent trend where male students dominate this grade category.
Challenges and Opportunities
The improved performance in top grades reflects progress in Kenya’s education system, yet challenges persist. The nullification of results and ongoing investigations underscore the need for stricter measures to uphold exam integrity.
CS Ogamba reaffirmed the government’s commitment to addressing these issues, stating, “We will continue working with stakeholders to foster fairness and enhance the credibility of national examinations.”
Gender disparities also remain a significant factor, particularly in high-performing grades, where male students continue to outshine their female counterparts in most categories. However, the steady rise in overall performance offers hope for a brighter future in education.
