Hard truths. Bold Insights. Real talk.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed on Wednesday that the last group of 79 injured girls, who had been receiving treatment in various hospitals including Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, have fully recovered and been allowed to go home.
Education CS Julius Ogamba said 270,000 candidates qualified for direct university entry after attaining grade C+ and above.
CS Ogamba acknowledged that the recent strike by university staff, though disruptive, brought attention to valid concerns over delayed salary payments and contract implementation.
Learners were examined across nine learning areas: English; Kiswahili or Kenyan Sign Language; Mathematics; Integrated Science; Agriculture and Nutrition; Social Studies; Religious Education (CRE, IRE or HRE); Creative Arts and Sports; and Pre-Technical Studies.
Nationally, the ministry’s data showed that 642,620 learners, representing 56.84 per cent of the total, were within the recommended age range of 14 to 15 years. Overall, 1,130,459 learners participated in the 2025 KJSEA, a key milestone in implementing the competency-based curriculum. Of these, 578,630 were male and 551,829 female, making up 51.19 per cent and 48.81 per cent respectively.
Releasing the 2025 KJSEA results, Ogamba said the ministry was satisfied with how the assessments were carried out across the country, noting that teams on the ground acted quickly whenever challenges arose.
According to the ministry’s figures, 642,620 learners — 56.84 per cent — were within the recommended age of 14 to 15 years, which Ogamba said showed better alignment between learner age and their level of study.
Announcing the inaugural Grade 9 results at the Kenya National Examination Council headquarters in Nairobi, Ogamba said female learners met or exceeded expectations in 10 of the 12 subjects assessed.
CS Ogamba confirmed that while most centres observed the rules, cases of cheating were still reported and are being processed by investigators in line with the KNEC Act of 2012.
According to the Ministry of Education, 44,495 schools have so far been cleared after submitting verifiable information. At the same time, the audit has already uncovered 87,000 ghost learners and identified 10 schools in 10 counties that have no learners at all, raising fresh questions about how nearly Sh1 billion in capitation was previously released without proper checks.
Ogamba thanked candidates, teachers, security officers and members of the public for supporting the exercise so far. He urged Kenyans to stay alert and report any suspicious behaviour using KNEC’s toll-free numbers 0800721410 and 0800724900. Cases involving police misconduct can be reported to IPOA through toll-free line 1559.
Ogamba also outlined measures to secure the movement of exam materials. Working with the Ministry of Interior and disaster management teams, the ministry has set up temporary collection points, deployed officers along key routes, and ensured papers reach their destinations on time, with extra precautions in flood-prone areas.