Education Cabinet Secretary Migos Ogamba officially announced the results for the 2024 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams on Thursday, January 9, 2024.
Speaking from Mtihani House, Ogamba revealed that 962,512 candidates had sat for the national exams and emphasized the government’s commitment to advancing higher education opportunities.
“Today we are releasing the 2024 KCSE results for the 962,512 candidates, all of whom we have cleared to join various higher learning institutions to pursue careers of their choice,” Ogamba stated.
Results withheld
The Kenya National Examinations Council (KNEC) nullified the results of 840 candidates due to confirmed cases of exam malpractice.
Additionally, the results of 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 reflected notable improvement compared to the previous year.
A total of 1,693 candidates earned a coveted Grade A, a significant increase from the 1,216 recorded in 2023.
Among those scoring Grade A, 556 were female, and 1,137 were male.
Other high-achieving categories included:
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 attained a Grade C+ and above, qualifying them for direct admission to universities.
This figure underscores the steady improvement in academic performance and increased opportunities for tertiary education.
Distribution of other grades
The full breakdown of grades reveals disparities in gender performance:
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)
Grade E trends
The number of students scoring Grade E, the lowest category, rose slightly in 2024 compared to 2023, with 159 more students in this category.
In 2024, a total of 48,333 students scored grade E. Of this 20,112 are female while 28,221 are male.
In 2023, 48,174 candidates scored Grade E, with 19,960 female and 28,214 male.
Reflection on results
The 2024 KCSE results reflect progress in academic achievement, particularly in the number of students attaining top grades.
However, the nullification of results and ongoing investigations highlight persistent challenges related to exam integrity.
Education CS Ogamba reaffirmed the government’s dedication to fostering fairness and excellence in the education system, noting that the ministry would work closely with stakeholders to address malpractices and enhance the credibility of national examinations.
2024 KCSE results also continue to emphasize gender disparities, particularly in high-achieving grades, where males outperformed females in most categories.
Nevertheless, the steady rise in overall academic performance offers hope for the future of education in Kenya.
